Hotspots and Trends in Research on Postpartum Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Visualization and Bibliometric Analysis...

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Bibliometrics

Background:

• Postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a prevalent condition affecting women after childbirth.
• Despite numerous studies, a systematic quantification and summary of postpartum PFD research are lacking.
• This study addresses this gap by analyzing research trends from 2005-2024.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze the research status, hotspots, and emerging trends in postpartum PFD using bibliometric methods.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific landscape of postpartum PFD research over two decades.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of studies on postpartum PFD from the Web of Science Core Collection (2005-2024).
• Visualization and analysis of authors, countries, institutions, references, and keywords using CiteSpace software.

Main Results:

• A total of 1149 publications were identified, showing an increasing trend over the past two decades.
• International Urogynecology Journal, University of Oslo, and Kari Bø were identified as leading journal, institution, and author, respectively.
• Research hotspots include stress urinary incontinence, anal incontinence, chronic pain, mode of delivery, and transperineal ultrasound.

Conclusions:

• This bibliometric analysis offers insights into current research hotspots and trends in postpartum PFD.
• Future research should prioritize global collaboration, multidisciplinary studies, and the integration of AI in diagnostics and therapeutics.