Pelvic floor muscle function and quality of life in postmenopausal women with and without pelvic floor dysfunction

This study aims to compare pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function in postmenopausal women with and without pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and the relation between PFM function and quality of life.

A case-control study with 216 postmenopausal women with (n = 126) and without (n = 90) PFD. PFM function was assessed by digital vaginal palpation using the PERFECT scale. Specific quality of life was evaluated using the King's Health Questionnaire for women with urinary incontinence and the Prolapse Quality-of-Life Questionnaire for women with pelvic organ prolapse. We analyzed women with PFD into two categories: Oxford's grade ≤2 or ≥3 using a chi-squared test.

Out of 126 womem with PFD 44 (34.9%) presented stress urinary incontinence, 21 (16.6%) had pelvic organ prolapse and 61 (48.4%) had urinary incontinence + pelvic organ prolapse. Strength had a median value 2 (0-5) in all women studied and most of them had insufficient strength, reduced endurance and repetition without statistical difference between groups. Incontinent women with strength ≤2 had worse perception of general health domain of King's Health Questionnaire (p = 0.007). No association was found between PFM function and Prolapse Quality-of-Life Questionnaire.

PFM function assessed by bidigital palpation in postmenopausal women was not sufficiently sensitive to differentiate between women with vs. women without PFM dysfunction and was not related with specific quality of life in women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, respectively. These data should be used to reinforce the widespread recommendation that PFM training is essencial in PFD treatment.