[The role of antenatal courses in preventing the onset of altered pelvic statics and urinary incontinence].
OBJECTIVE
This study was prompted by the frequent finding of urinary incontinence in peri- and postmenopausal women. In an attempt to reduce this incidence, the authors evaluated the role of antenatal courses as an important preventive and operative means of providing information aimed at preventing the onset of alterations to pelvic statics and urinary incontinence. The clinical data of 40 puerperae, of whom 45% had followed our antenatal course, were examined for this purpose.


METHODS
A functional examination of the perineum was made in all subjects on discharge after birth and 6 months later.


RESULTS
These findings appear to indicate that antenatal courses play an important role in preventing obstetric perineal complications.


CONCLUSIONS
During the courses all women were given useful advice on hygiene and diet, including guidelines for suitable regular exercise, the need to drink about 1 litre of unsweetened liquid daily, a balanced diet and advice regardingf perineal relaxation. Subsequently, all subjects were advised to continue exercising after birth to ensure the correct rehabilitation of the perineal floor and they were also given a sheet containing the different learnt during the antenatal courses. In this way these subjects increased their awareness of the need not to underestimate the early symptoms of urinary incontinence should they occur after birth.
Franchi
M
M
I Istituto di Ginecologia e Ostetricia, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza.
Ciolli
P
P
Greco
E
E
Piserà
A
A
Russo
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017698:Postmenopause; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
Quale ruolo dei corsi di preparazione al parto nella prevenzione dell'insorgenza delle alterazioni della statica pelvica e dei disturbi della continenza urinaria.