title: A quantitative approach to measure women's sexual function using electromyography: a preliminary study of the Kegel exercise.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, the reference standard used to clinically assess sexual function among women is a qualitative questionnaire. Hence, a generalised and quantitative measurement tool needs to be available as an alternative. This study investigated whether an electromyography (EMG) measurement technique could be used to help quantify women's sexual function.
  
  
  METHODS
  A preliminary intervention study was conducted on 12 female subjects, who were randomised into a control (n=6) and an intervention (n=6) group. Intervention involved a set regimen of pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegel) and the control group did not have any treatment. All subjects were asked to answer a validated, self-rated Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ). EMG measurements of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and the abdominal muscles were taken from all women at recruitment and 8 weeks after study commencement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 8 weeks, most of the subjects in the control group did not display any noted positive difference in either PISQ score (4/6) or in their muscle strength (4/6). However, a noted progressive difference were observed in subjects who were placed in the Kegel group; PISQ score (5/6) and muscles strength (4/6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The noted difference in the Kegel group subjects was that if progress is observed in the sexual function, improvement is also observed in the strength of at least 2 types of muscles (either abdominal or PFM muscles). Thus, EMG measurement is a potential technique to quantify the changes in female sexual function. Further work will be conducted to validate this assumption.
authors: Medical Informatics and Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems Specialized Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Mas Sahidayana
authors: MS
authors: Mohktar
authors: Medical Informatics and Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems Specialized Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Fatimah
authors: F
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Medical Informatics and Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems Specialized Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Nur Farahana
authors: NF
authors: Mohd Rozi
authors: Medical Informatics and Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems Specialized Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Juhaida
authors: J
authors: Mohd Yusof
authors: Medical Informatics and Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems Specialized Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Siti Anom
authors: SA
authors: Ahmad
authors: Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Khong
authors: K
authors: Su Yen
authors: Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Siti Zawiah
authors: SZ
authors: Omar
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires