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

Childbirth and pelvic floor trauma.

H P Dietz1, P D Wilson

  • 1Nepean Campus, Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Penrith, Australia. hpdietz@bigpond.com

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
|September 27, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Childbirth can cause pelvic floor trauma, damaging nerves and muscles. While risk factors are known, the clinical significance for later pelvic floor issues like incontinence and prolapse requires further investigation.

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

Can we define a cut-off for external anal sphincter defect angle?

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2026
Same author

Do we need individualized interslice intervals for exoanal tomographic imaging?

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2025
Same author

Is two-dimensional oblique parasagittal ultrasound imaging valid for levator ani muscle assessment?

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2025
Same author

Levator-urethra gap: is there a need for individualization of cut-offs?

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2024
Same author

Do some levator avulsions improve over time?

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2024
Same author

Diagnosis of maternal birth trauma by pelvic floor ultrasound.

European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology·2023

Area of Science:

  • Urogynecology
  • Obstetrics
  • Pelvic Floor Disorders

Background:

  • Childbirth-related pelvic floor trauma is a growing concern for healthcare providers and the public.
  • Increased availability and perceived safety of elective cesarean sections influence discussions on pelvic floor trauma prevention.
  • The debate surrounding pelvic floor trauma involves complex factors, including health economics and provider roles, sometimes hindering rational discourse.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the reality and clinical relevance of pelvic floor trauma during childbirth.
  • To determine if childbirth trauma contributes to the pathogenesis of incontinence and prolapse.
  • To synthesize 25 years of urogynaecological research on this topic.

Main Methods:

  • Review of available scientific evidence and urogynaecological research.
  • Analysis of risk factors associated with pelvic floor trauma during vaginal delivery.
  • Assessment of the link between identified trauma and later-life pelvic floor morbidity.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests vaginal delivery can damage the pudendal nerve, levator ani muscle, and pelvic organ supports.
  • Identified risk factors include operative vaginal delivery, prolonged second stage of labor, and fetal macrosomia.
  • The clinical relevance and etiological importance of this trauma for long-term pelvic floor morbidity remain unclear.

Conclusions:

  • Vaginal delivery poses a risk of physical trauma to the pelvic floor structures.
  • While risk factors are identifiable, the direct causal link between childbirth trauma and subsequent incontinence or prolapse needs more research.
  • Further investigation is crucial to understand the clinical significance of pelvic floor trauma in the context of long-term women's health.

Related Experiment Videos