Struggling with daily life and enduring pain : a qualitative study of women's experiences with pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy

Background. Few studies have investigated the experiences of living with pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and its impact on pregnant women’s lives. To address this gap in knowledge, this study investigates the experiences of women living with PGP during pregnancy. Methods. A purposive sample, of nine pregnant women with diagnosed PGP, were interviewed about their experiences. Interviews were recorded, transcribed to text and analysed using a Grounded Theory approach. Results. The core category that evolved from the analysis of experiences of living with PGP in pregnancy was “struggling with daily life and enduring pain”. Three properties addressing the actions caused by PGP were identified: i) grasping the incomprehensible; ii) balancing support and dependence and iii) managing the losses. These experiences expressed by the informants constitute a basis for the consequences of PGP: iv) enduring pain; v) being a burden; vi) calculating the risks and the experiences of the informants as vii) abdicating as a mother. Finally, the informants’ experiences of the consequences regarding the current pregnancy and any potential future pregnancies is presented in viii) paying the price and reconsidering the future. A conceptual model of the actions and consequences experienced by the pregnant informants living with PGP is presented. Conclusions. PGP during pregnancy greatly affects the informant’s experiences of her pregnancy, her roles in relationships, and her social context. For informants with young children, PGP negatively affects the role of being a mother, a situation that further strains the experience. As the constant pain disturbs most aspects of the lives of the informants, improvements in the treatment of PGP is of importance as to increase the quality of life. This pregnancy-related condition is prevalent and must be considered a major public health concern during pregnancy.

Effect of intravaginal electrical stimulation on pelvic floor muscle strength

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravaginal electrical stimulation (IES) on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength in patients with mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Between January 2001 and February 2002, 40 MUI women (mean age: 48 years) were studied. Urge incontinence was the predominant symptom; 92.5% also presented mild stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Selection criteria were clinical history and urodynamics. Pre-treatment urodynamic study showed no statistical differences between the groups. Ten percent of the women in each group had involuntary detrusor contractions. Patients were randomly distributed, in a double-blind study, into two groups. Group G 1 (n=20), effective IES, and group G2 (n=20), sham IES, with follow-up at 1 month. The following parameters were studied: (1) clinical questionnaire, (2) examiner's evaluation of perineal muscle strength, (3) objective evaluation of perineal muscle by perineometry, (4) vaginal weight test, and (5) urodynamic study. The IES protocol consisted of three 20-min sessions per week over a 7-week period using a Dualpex Uro 996 at 4 Hz. There was no statistically significant difference in the demographic data of both groups. The number of micturitions per 24 h after treatment was reduced significantly in both groups. Urge incontinence, present in all patients before treatment, was reduced to 15% in G1 and 31.5% in G2 post-treatment. The subjective evaluation of PFM strength demonstrated a significant improvement in G1. Objective evaluation of PFM force by perineometer showed a significant improvement in maximum peak contraction post-treatment in both groups. In the vaginal weight test, there was a significant increase in average number of cone retentions post-treatment in both groups. With regard to satisfaction level, after treatment, 80% of the patients in G1 and 65% of the patients in G2 were satisfied. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. There was a significant improvement in PFM strength from both effective and sham electrostimulation, questioning the effectiveness of electrostimulation as a monotherapy in treating MUI.

Pelvic floor muscle evaluation in incontinent patients

The aim of this study was to assess pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength and perception and its correlation with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). One hundred and one women were divided into two groups according to the presence (G1=51 patients) or absence (G2=50 patients) of SUI. Subjective [urine stream interruption test (UST), visual survey of perineal contraction and transvaginal digital palpation to assess pelvic muscle contraction] and objective evaluations of pelvic floor muscles in all patients were performed (vaginal manometry). During the UST, 25.5% of G1 patients and 80% of G2 patients were able to interrupt the urine stream (p<0.05). Digital evaluation of pelvic muscular contraction showed higher strength in G2 than in G1 patients (p<0.0001). Perineometer evaluation of PFM strength was significantly higher in the continent group (p<0.001). Pelvic floor muscle weakness in incontinent patients demonstrates the importance of functional and objective evaluation of this group of muscles.

A comparative analisys of pelvic floor muscle strength in women with stress and urge urinary incontinence

Aims: To assess pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urge urinary incontinence (UUI).Materials and Methods: 51 women were prospectively divided into two groups, according to the symptoms as SUI (G1 = 22) or UUI (G2 = 29). Demographic data, such as number of pads/ 24 hours, number of micturations/ 24 hours and nocturia, delay time of urgent void (i.e., the time period for which an urgent void could be voluntarily postponed), number of parity and vaginal deliveries were obtained using a clinical questionnaire. Objective urine loss was evaluated by 60-min. Pad Test, subjective urine stream interruption test (UST) and visual survey of perineal contraction. Objective evaluations of PFM were performed in all patients (vaginal manometry).Results: Median of age, mean number of pads/ 24 hours, nocturia and warning time were significantly higher in UUI comparing to SUI group. During UST, 45.45% in G1 and 3.44%, in G2, were able to interrupt the urine stream (p < 0.001). The 60-min. Pad Test was significantly higher in G2 compared to G1 women (2.7 +/- 2.4 vs 1.5 +/- 1.9 respectively, p = 0.049). Objective evaluation of PFM strength was significantly higher in the SUI than in the UUI patients. No statistical difference was observed regarding other studied parameters.Conclusion: Pelvic floor muscle weakness was significantly higher in women with UUI when compared to SUI.

Comparison of pelvic floor muscle strength evaluations in nulliparous and primiparous women: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the pelvic floor muscle strength of nulliparous and primiparous women.METHODS: A total of 100 women were prospectively distributed into two groups: Group 1 (G1) (n = 50) included healthy nulliparous women, and Group 2 (G2) (n = 50) included healthy primiparous women. Pelvic floor muscle strength was subjectively evaluated using transvaginal digital palpation. Pelvic floor muscle strength was objectively assessed using a portable perineometer. All of the parameters were evaluated simultaneously in G1 and were evaluated in G2 during the 20(th) and 36(th) weeks of pregnancy and 45 days after delivery.RESULTS: In G2, 14 women were excluded because they left the study before the follow-up evaluation. The median age was 23 years in G1 and 22 years in G2; there was no significant difference between the groups. The average body mass index was 21.7 kg/m(2) in G1 and 25.0 kg/m(2) in G2; there was a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.0004). In G2, transvaginal digital palpation evaluation showed significant impairments of pelvic floor muscle strength at the 36(th) week of pregnancy (p = 0.0006) and 45 days after vaginal delivery (p = 0.0001) compared to G1. Objective evaluations of pelvic floor muscle strength in G2 revealed a significant decrease 45 days after vaginal delivery compared to nulliparous patients.CONCLUSION: Pregnancy and vaginal delivery may cause weakness of the pelvic floor muscles.

Vaginal weight cone versus assisted pelvic floor muscle training in the treatment of female urinary incontinence. A prospective, single-blind, randomized trial

Vaginal weight cone (VWC) versus assisted pelvic floor muscle training (APFMT) in the treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) in women.One hundred three incontinent women were randomly distributed into two groups: group G1 (n = 51) treated with VWC and G2 (n = 52), APFMT. The following parameters were performed initially and after treatment: (1) clinical questionnaire, (2) visual analogue scale (VAS), (3) 60-min pad test, and (4) subjective and objective assessment of pelvic floor muscle (PFM).There was a significant decrease in nocturia and urine loss after treatment in both groups (p < 0.05). In VAS, there was a significant improvement of all parameters in both groups (p < 0.05). The pad test showed significant decrease in both groups (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase of PFM strength in both groups (p < 0.05).There was no difference between groups treated with VWC and APFMT.

Clinicopathological features influencing pelvic lymph node metastasis and vaginal and parametrial involvement in patients with carcinoma of the cervix

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate clinical and pathologic findings that predicted pelvic lymph node metastasis and parametrial and vaginal involvement in patients with stage IB carcinoma of the cervix. Methods: 71 patients with diagnosis of stage IB (FIGO) cervical cancer were prospectively studied from December 1997 to August 2002. The patient's age, clinical stage (IB1 or IB2), histological classification, grade of differentiation, tumor volume, and lymphatic vascular space invasion (LVSI) were evaluated. Statistical methods included chi(2) test and Fisher's exact test to evaluate significant differences between the groups. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: the clinical stage was IB1 in 51 patients (71.8%) and IB2 in 20 patients (28.2%). The histological classification identified squamous cell carcinoma in 60 patients (84.5%) and adenocarcinoma in 11 patients (15.5%). The average tumoral volume was 22.8 &PLUSMN; 8 24.3 cm(3) (0.3-140.0 cm(3)). The tumor was well differentiated (G1) in 8 (11.3%), moderately differentiated (G2) in 40 (56.3%) and poorly differentiated in 23 (32.4%) of the cases. The presence of LVSI was detected in 14 patients (19.7%) and was associated with pelvic lymph node metastasis and vaginal and parametrial involvement (p = 0.002, p = 0.001 and p < 0.001; respectively). The average number of positive pelvic lymph nodes was significantly higher in the patients with LVSI compared with patients without LVSI (2.47 +/- 2.8 vs. 0.33 +/- 0.74; p = 0.001). There was no association of age, clinical stage, histological classification, grade of differentiation or tumor volume with pelvic lymph node metastasis and vaginal and parametrial involvement. Conclusion: the presence of LVSI is significantly associated with pelvic lymph node metastasis and vaginal and parametrial involvement in patients with stage IB cervical carcinoma. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Treatment of urinary stress incontinence by intravaginal electrical stimulation and pelvic floor physiotherapy

Treatment of urinary stress incontinence (USI) by intravaginal electrical stimulation (IES) and pelvic floor physiotherapy represents an alternative to other therapies. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment inpatients with urinary incontinence. From January 1998 to May 2000, 30 women (mean age 54 years) were studied. All patients had USI and 70% urge incontinence; average follow-up was 7 months. Selection criteria were based on clinical history, objective evaluation of perineal musculature by perineometry, and urodynamics. The treatment protocol consisted of three sessions of IES per week for 14 weeks using INNOVA equipment. Physiotherapy was initiated in the fifth week of IES. A significant decrease in the number of micturitions and urgency was observed after treatment (P<0.01). The pad test showed a reduction in urinary leakage from 13.9 to 5.9 g after treatment (P<0.01). Objective evaluation of perineal muscle strength showed a significant improvement in all patients after treatment (P<0.01). A positive correlation was observed between maximum flow rate (Q(max)) and all three variables: urethral pressure profile at rest and on straining (stop test), and abdominal leak-point pressure (ALPP). A positive correlation was also observed between ALPP and the stop test. Over 100 different surgical and conservative treatments have been tried to manage USI. The majority of these procedures reveal that despite progress already made in this area, there is no ideal treatment. Satisfactory results can be achieved with this method, especially with patients who are reluctant to undergo surgery because of personal or clinical problems.

Effect of alcohol on the rat juxtaprostatic pelvic ganglia and gonads.

In the present paper, it was investigated the aspect of the intrapelvic autonomic neuronal system (juxtaprostatic ganglion) and gonads of rats submitted to a experimental alcoholism. The animals which had water substituted for 35% sugar cane spirit for 30 d, presented testicular lesions as well as numeric and degenerative alterations in the juxtaprostatic pelvic ganglia neurons.

About the arterial blood vessels pelvic opossum's (Didelphis albiventris) behaviour

The work consists of the study of 20 opossums (Didelphis albiventris); 7 females and 13 males, adults, natives of Jaboticabal county proceeding to a canulation and injection of the arterial system with neoprene latex-650 in the aorta artery (full-blooded). Right away the preparations were fixed by a 10% formaldehyde aqueous solution and afterwards dissected and formed a scheme. The analysis of the pieces showed that in the opossum, the end of the aorta always divides in the common iliac artery, right and left sides, both originating the external and internal iliac artery, on the right and left sides. The medium sacral artery results, medianly, from the aorta division's angle in 2 common iliac arteries in 8 cases (40% - 6 males and 2 females); this vessel comes from the left common iliac artery in 7 animals (35% - 5 males and 2 females) or comes from the right common iliac artery, in 5 preparations (25% - 3 females and 2 males). The deep iliac circumflex artery is born by the common iliac artery from the right side in 10 preparations (50% - 6 males and 4 females), can appear as well, concomitantly with the external and internal iliac artery, from the right side in 9 pieces (45% - 6 males and 3 females) and further from the right this vessels can emerge from the external iliac artery, in 1 case only (5% - 1 male).