Electromyography with acrylic plug surface electrodes after delivery

Pelvic floor neuromuscular function was evaluated with surface electromyography using acrylic plug electrodes and interactions between neuromuscular function and factors pertinent to the delivery process were explored. Fifty-two women who were primiparas participated in this prospective cohort study. Circumvaginal and circumrectal muscles were assessed. Corrected vaginal-rectal flicks and holds were calculated. The results were compared by delivery route, birthweight, race, lactational status, and delivery anesthetic and to a group of nulliparous subjects. The mean interval from delivery was 46.3 days. Birthweight, race, lactational status, and anesthetic technique were not associated with statistically significant changes in electrical activity, although our ability to detect such differences was low due to the small number of subjects. Women who delivered vaginally had lower vaginal flick voltage than those delivering abdominally. Women who delivered vaginally had lower vaginal flick and hold voltages and rectal flick voltage when compared with nulliparous women studied earlier. Abdominally delivered women had values similar to the nulliparous group. Women delivering vaginally had less surface electromyographic activity in the circumvaginal muscles, implying that vaginal delivery impairs the neuromuscular function of the pelvic floor.