Birth trauma and the pelvic floor: lessons from the developing world.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pelvic Floor Disorders

Background:

• Urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse are prevalent, stigmatizing conditions disproportionately affecting women.
• Childbirth is implicated as a primary cause for this gender-based disparity in pelvic floor dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pathophysiologic mechanisms of childbirth injuries.
• To explore the relationship between obstetric complications and pelvic floor dysfunction, including incontinence and prolapse.

Main Methods:

• Surveying the spectrum of childbirth injuries resulting from obstructed labor in developing countries.
• Discussing the potential relevance of these findings to subtle forms of pelvic floor dysfunction in Western women.

Main Results:

• Obstructed labor in developing countries presents a clear model for understanding severe childbirth injuries.
• These injuries offer insights into the potential mechanisms underlying less apparent pelvic floor issues in industrialized nations.

Conclusions:

• Examining childbirth injuries in the developing world can illuminate the pathophysiology of pelvic floor disorders.
• Understanding severe obstetric complications may help explain and manage incontinence and prolapse in women globally.