Postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a group of clinical conditions that includes urinary incontinence, anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, sensory and emptying abnormalities of the lower urinary tract, defecatory dysfunction, sexual dysfunction and several chronic pain syndromes, including vulvodynia. The three most common and definable conditions encountered clinically are urinary incontinence, anal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

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It is estimated that at least one-third of adult women are affected by at least one of these conditions. Furthermore, statistics show that 30 to 40 percent of women suffer from some degree of incontinence in their lifetime, and that almost 10 percent of women will undergo surgery for urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. 30 percent of those undergoing surgery will have at least two surgeries in trying to correct the problem.

With the steady increase in aged population in many countries, combined with the general superior longetivity of women, means that the cost burden related to pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) is enormous in terms of lost productivity, decreased quality of life and direct health care costs.

References

• NIH Guide: Basic Science Research on Female Pelvic Floor Disorders