Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) Quantification System
Published on: September 20, 2018
Perineal muscle strength during pregnancy and postpartum: the correlation between perineometry and digital vaginal
Maria Luiza Gonzalez Riesco1, Adriana de Souza Caroci, Sonia Maria Junqueira Vasconcellos de Oliveira
1Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil. riesco@usp.br
Abstract:
Digital vaginal palpation performed during clinical practice can help diagnose urinary, intestinal and sexual disorders, while perineometry is more useful for performing perineal exercises with biofeedback. This study verifies whether there is a correlation between values of Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength (PFMS) obtained through perineometry performed with an electronic perineometer and through digital vaginal palpation using the Oxford scale. This is a prospective cohort study with 330 measurements carried out in 110 women. Data were collected from 2007 to 2008 in the health service system in Itapecerica da Serra, São Paulo, Brazil. Evaluations were carried out at three points in time: up to 12 weeks of pregnancy; between 36-40 weeks; and between 42-60 days postpartum. The Spearman coefficient indicated a strong positive correlation between the two evaluation methods for the three evaluations (p<0.0001). The conclusion is that both methods are valid for measuring PFMS during pregnancy and after delivery.
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...
Assessment of the Abdomen III: Palpation
Assessment of the Rectum and Anus
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...
Assessment of the Abdomen II: Percussion
Percussion
Percussion is an essential...
