title: Coital incontinence and vaginal symptoms and the relationship to pelvic floor muscle function in primiparous women at 12 months postpartum: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Symptoms related to sexual dysfunction postpartum are scarcely addressed in the literature, and the relationship to pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function is largely unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate primiparous women 12 months postpartum and study: (i) prevalence and bother of coital incontinence, vaginal symptoms, and sexual matters; and (ii) whether coital incontinence and vaginal symptoms were associated with vaginal resting pressure (VRP), PFM strength, and endurance.
  
  
  METHODS
  International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire (ICIQ) sexual matters module and ICIQ-Vaginal Symptoms Questionnaire were used for questions on coital incontinence, vaginal symptoms, and sexual matters, respectively. PFM function was assessed by manometer (Camtech AS, Sandvika, Norway).
  
  
  METHODS
  Coital incontinence, vaginal symptoms, and PFM function were the main outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-seven primiparous women, mean age 28.7 (standard deviation [SD] 4.3) participated. Of the 94% of women having sexual intercourse, coital incontinence was found for 1.2% whereas 34.5% reported at least one vaginal symptom interfering with the sexual life of primiparous women. Of the symptoms investigated, "vagina feels dry," "vagina feels sore," and "vagina feels loose or lax" were most prevalent, but the overall impact on the woman's sexual life was minimally bothersome, mean 1.4 out of 10 (SD 2.5). Women reporting "vagina feels loose or lax" had lower VRP, PFM strength, and endurance when compared with women without the symptom.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Twelve-month postpartum coital incontinence was rare, whereas the prevalence of vaginal symptoms interfering with sexual life was more common. The large majority of primiparous women in our study had sexual intercourse at 12 months postpartum and the reported overall bother on sexual life was low. Women reporting "vagina feels loose or lax" had lower VRP, PFM strength, and endurance when compared with women without the symptom.
authors: Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
authors: Merete Kolberg
authors: MK
authors: Tennfjord
authors: Gunvor
authors: G
authors: Hilde
authors: Jette
authors: J
authors: Stær-Jensen
authors: Franziska
authors: F
authors: Siafarikas
authors: Marie Ellström
authors: ME
authors: Engh
authors: Kari
authors: K
authors: Bø
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D009664:Norway; D010298:Parity; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Coital Incontinence; Pelvic Floor Muscle Function; Postpartum; Sexual Function; Vaginal Symptoms