Alterations in levator ani morphology in elite nulliparous athletes: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive medicine
• Pelvic floor anatomy
• Sports medicine

Background:

• Difficult vaginal birth can damage pelvic floor muscles, with prolonged labor being a key factor.
• High-impact training may lead to pelvic floor muscle hypertrophy, potentially affecting childbirth.
• Athletic women may experience more difficult childbirth due to reduced pelvic floor compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate pelvic floor muscle morphology in nulliparous female athletes using MRI.
• To compare muscle morphology between athletic and non-athletic nulliparous women.
• To assess the urogenital hiatus and pelvic outlet dimensions in both groups.

Main Methods:

• Static Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging of the pelvic floor.
• Detailed assessment of levator ani and puborectalis muscle morphology.
• Measurement of urogenital hiatus cross-sectional area and bony pelvic outlet diameter.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in pelvic floor muscle cross-sectional area and width were observed between athletes and controls.
• No significant differences in the cross-sectional area of the urogenital hiatus were found.
• Pelvic outlet adequacy was confirmed against normative data.

Conclusions:

• Observed differences in pelvic floor muscles between athletes and non-athletes warrant further research.
• These morphological changes may influence pelvic floor muscle function in athletic women.
• Further investigation is needed to understand the functional implications for childbirth.