Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) Quantification System
Published on: September 20, 2018
The urine stream interruption test and pelvic muscle function in the puerperium
A Sartore1, R Pregazzi, P Bortoli
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Trieste, I.R.C.C.S. Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy. sartore@burlo.trieste.it
Objectives:
This study assesses the role of the uroflowmetric urine stream interruption test (UST) in the evaluation of postpartum pelvic floor muscle function.
Method:
Two months after vaginal delivery, 492 women who underwent a digital test, vaginal manometry, and a UST were divided into two groups: continent and incontinent. Variables were subjected to the Student's t-test and to Fisher's exact test to verify the difference between the two groups.
Results:
Digital test and vaginal manometry results were higher in the continent group, but only the UST showed significantly different values (P=0.001). All test results of incontinent puerperae who underwent rehabilitation were significantly improved after treatment.
Conclusions:
UST is low cost, non-invasive, and can give objective information about pelvic floor performance after a vaginal delivery. It can be used for both routine clinical use and an outcome measure for women who undergo rehabilitation treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Muscles of the Pelvic Floor and Perineum
Perineal Layer
The perineum is a diamond-shaped area below the pelvic diaphragm, divided into an anterior urogenital triangle that contains the external genitals and a posterior anal triangle housing the anus. The urogenital...
The Micturition Reflex
The process begins with bladder filling, where the bladder wall stretches as urine accumulates. This stretching activates the urine storage reflex, mediated by the sacral spinal segments and the pontine storage center. Efferent sympathetic impulses stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal urethral sphincter to contract, facilitating urine...
Anatomy of the Genitourinary System II: Bladder and Urethra
Nursing Assessment of the Genitourinary System III: Percussion and Auscultation
Urodynamic Studies: Uroflowmetry
Urine Studies II: Urine Culture and Sensitivity Test

