HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dolan, L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Dolan, L.

An update on damage to the pelvic floor in childbirth

^1. The Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK Email: Lucia.Dolan{at}luht.scot.nhs.uk (corresponding author)

Key content:

• Caesarean section may reduce the risk of postnatal pelvic floor dysfunction; long-term benefits are less clear.
  
• Non-obstetric factors such as age, obesity and family history are independent factors that confer significant risk of pelvic floor dysfunction.
  
• Further research, perhaps using pelvic floor imaging, may improve our understanding of the nature of the injuries.
  

Learning objectives:

• To review the literature on obstetric risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction.
  
• To be able to counsel women on the place of caesarean section in protecting the pelvic floor.
  

Ethical issues:

• Insufficient information is available for counselling on the impact of obstetric events on pelvic floor symptoms when women have completed their reproductive life.
  

Please cite this article as: Dolan L. An update on damage to the pelvic floor in childbirth. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2009;11:157–162.

Keywords anal incontinence / caesarean section / pelvic organ prolapse / pregnancy / urinary incontinence