Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Levator function before and after childbirth.

Hans Peter Dietz1

  • 1Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
|April 20, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Response to the article 'Role of Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Women with Obstetric Sphincter Injuries: Narrative Review'.

International urogynecology journal·2026
Same author

Is There a Difference in Hiatal Area on Straining Between Type I and II Levator Avulsions?

International urogynecology journal·2026
Same author

AI driven interactive extraction of tomographic ultrasound imaging sequences for anal sphincter defects.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Artificial Intelligence for the Automated Measurement of Hiatal Dimensions.

International urogynecology journal·2026
Same author

Is It Useful to Distinguish Type I and Type II Avulsions on Transperineal Ultrasound?

Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine·2025
Same author

IUGA Opinion Paper on Obstructed Defecation: Management of Clinical and Proctographic Rectoceles.

International urogynecology journal·2025
Same journal

Determining the Feasibility of a No-Ultrasound Screening Tool for Early Medical Abortion in Australia.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

'All In': Equitable Health Outcomes Require Culturally Safe Care for Everybody.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Benzylpenicillin Concentrations in Intrapartum Group B Streptococcus Prevention Guidelines; A Systematic Review of the Evidence.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Retrospective Cohort Study of Foetal Growth Restricted Births After 40 Weeks at an Australian Tertiary Maternity Hospital Between 2018 and 2021.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Models of Antenatal Care for Rural Indigenous Women: A Systematic Review.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
Same journal

Dispensing of Antiemetics During Pregnancy in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2005-2020.

The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology·2026
See all related articles

Vaginal childbirth impairs pelvic floor muscle function, specifically reducing bladder neck support. The length of the second stage of labor is the primary factor affecting levator muscle function post-delivery.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pelvic Floor Imaging
  • Female Pelvic Medicine

Background:

  • Childbirth, particularly vaginal delivery, is widely assumed to negatively impact pelvic floor muscle function.
  • Potential mechanisms include direct trauma to the muscles or associated neuropathy during labor and delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantitatively assess levator muscle function using translabial ultrasound before and after childbirth.
  • To correlate observed changes in levator function with specific parameters of labor and delivery.

Main Methods:

  • Translabial ultrasound was used to measure cranioventral displacement of the bladder neck during pelvic floor muscle contractions in 200 nulliparous women.
  • Measurements were taken during late pregnancy and 2-5 months postpartum.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Labor and delivery data, including the duration of the second stage, were collected and analyzed.

    • Main Results:

    • A statistically significant reduction in bladder neck displacement (indicating impaired levator function) was observed postpartum compared to antenatal measurements (P <0.001).
    • This reduction in function showed a weak correlation with the duration of the active, passive, and total second stage of labor.
    • Pre-existing good levator function did not prevent postpartum functional changes or pelvic organ support issues.

    Conclusions:

    • Vaginal childbirth leads to reduced levator muscle function, evidenced by decreased bladder neck support.
    • The duration of the second stage of labor appears to be the most significant obstetric factor influencing postpartum levator function.
    • Cesarean delivery during the second stage of labor did not offer a protective effect; fetal head engagement, rather than childbirth itself, may be the critical factor impacting levator function.