title: Comparison of pelvic floor muscle strength evaluations in nulliparous and primiparous women: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the pelvic floor muscle strength of nulliparous and primiparous women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 100 women were prospectively distributed into two groups: Group 1 (G1) (n = 50) included healthy nulliparous women, and Group 2 (G2) (n = 50) included healthy primiparous women. Pelvic floor muscle strength was subjectively evaluated using transvaginal digital palpation. Pelvic floor muscle strength was objectively assessed using a portable perineometer. All of the parameters were evaluated simultaneously in G1 and were evaluated in G2 during the 20th and 36th weeks of pregnancy and 45 days after delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In G2, 14 women were excluded because they left the study before the follow-up evaluation. The median age was 23 years in G1 and 22 years in G2; there was no significant difference between the groups. The average body mass index was 21.7 kg/m² in G1 and 25.0 kg/m² in G2; there was a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.0004). In G2, transvaginal digital palpation evaluation showed significant impairments of pelvic floor muscle strength at the 36th week of pregnancy (p = 0.0006) and 45 days after vaginal delivery (p = 0.0001) compared to G1. Objective evaluations of pelvic floor muscle strength in G2 revealed a significant decrease 45 days after vaginal delivery compared to nulliparous patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnancy and vaginal delivery may cause weakness of the pelvic floor muscles.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Service, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mônica Orsi
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Gameiro
authors.forename: Vanessa Oliveira
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Luiz Felipe
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Gameiro
authors.forename: Rosana Carneiro
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Muchailh
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Padovani
authors.forename: João Luiz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Amaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010173:Palpation; D010298:Parity / Q000502:physiology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors