Observational studyInternational urogynecology journal2018
The impact of childbirth on pelvic floor morphology in primiparous Black South African women: a prospective longitudinal observational study.
Observational study in International urogynecology journal, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Association Between Mode of Delivery and Levator Ani Muscle Abnormalities on 4D Transperineal Ultrasound at 6 Weeks Postpartum.International journal of women's health · 2026Article
- Prevalence of vaginal laxity in primiparous women six months after birth.Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia : revista da Federacao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia · 2025Article
- Ultrasound imaging of maternal birth trauma.International urogynecology journal · 2021Review
- Pelvic Floor Morbidity Following Vaginal Delivery versus Cesarean Delivery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- Effect of radiofrequency and pelvic floor muscle training in the treatment of women with vaginal laxity: A study protocol.PloS one · 2021Article
- Vaginal laxity: which measure of levator ani distensibility is most predictive?Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2020Article
- Pelvic floor biometry in asymptomatic primiparous women compared with nulliparous women: a single-center study in Southern China.The Journal of international medical research · 2020Article
- Questionnaires to evaluate pelvic floor dysfunction in the postpartum period: a systematic review.International journal of women's health · 2018Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introduction and hypothesisThere is a lack of prospective studies evaluating the impact of childbirth on the pelvic floor in non-white populations. We intended to study delivery-related changes in pelvic floor morphology in Black South African primiparae. We also intended to determine the impact of anatomical changes on symptoms in the postpartum period.
methodsA total of 153 nulliparous women between 35 and 39 weeks gestation were recruited from a district antenatal clinic. All women had a standardized interview, completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Vaginal Symptoms questionnaire followed by three/four dimensional transperineal ultrasonography. This was repeated at 3-6 months postpartum.
resultsOf the 153 women, 84 (54.9%) returned at a mean of 4.8 months postpartum. Of these women, 60 (71.4%) had a vaginal delivery and the remainder a caesarean section (20 emergency and 4 elective). Overall, there were statistically significant increases in bladder neck descent (P = 0.003), pelvic organ descent and levator hiatal distensibility (all P < 0001) at the postpartum assessment. Levator avulsion was diagnosed in nine (15%) of those delivered vaginally. Postpartum vaginal laxity was the commonest bothersome vaginal symptom, reported by 51 women (60.7%).
conclusionsThere is significant alteration in pelvic organ support and levator hiatal distensibility postpartum, with more marked effects in women after vaginal delivery. Of Black primiparous women, 15% sustained levator trauma after their first vaginal delivery.
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