title: Effects of epidural analgesia on pelvic floor function after spontaneous delivery: a longitudinal retrospective study.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of epidural analgesia on pelvic floor function. Eighty-two primiparous women (group 1, consisting of 41 given an epidural, and group 2 of 41 not given an epidural) were investigated during pregnancy and at 2 and 10 months after delivery by a questionnaire, clinical examination, and assessment of bladder neck behavior, urethral sphincter function and intravaginal/intra-anal pressures. The prevalence of stress urinary incontinence was similar in both groups at 2 months (24% vs. 17%, P = 0.6) and 10 months (22% vs. 7%, P = 0.1), as was the prevalence of decreased sexual vaginal response at 10 months (27% vs. 10%, P = 0.08). Bladder neck behavior, urethral sphincter function and intravaginal and intra-anal pressures showed no significant differences between the two groups. Ten months after spontaneous delivery, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence and decreased sexual vaginal response, or in bladder neck behavior, urethral sphincter function and pelvic floor muscle strength between women who had or had not had epidural analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Urogynecology Unit, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland. Sylvain.Meyer@chuv.hospvd.ch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Achtari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hohlfeld
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Grandi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buchser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000502:physiology; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014521:Urethra / Q000502:physiology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000502:physiology; D014563:Urodynamics; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics