Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32399905›Full record

SynthesisInternational urogynecology journal2020

Antenatal perineal massage benefits in reducing perineal trauma and postpartum morbidities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Ahmed Mohamed Abdelhakim, Elsayed Eldesouky, Ibrahim Abo Elmagd, Attia Mohammed, Elsayed Aly Farag, Abd Elhalim Mohammed, Khaled M Hamam, Ahmed Salah Hussein, Ahmed Said Ali, Nawal Hamdy Ahmed Keshta and 3 more

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International urogynecology journal, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 24 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
24citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
4.7field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05190913 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

The Effect of Instrumented and Non-Instrumental Perineal Massage on Birth Results in the Active Phase of Labor

TypeinterventionalSponsorNamik Kemal UniversityRan2021 to 2023Enrolled120ConditionsLaborArmsInstrumental perineal massage, manual perineal massage
NCT06162312 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Efficacy of Antenatal Perineal Massage in Reducing Postpartum Morbidities

TypeinterventionalSponsorDepartment of Medical Services Ministry of Public Health of ThailandRan2023 to 2024Enrolled106ConditionsPerineum, Injury, Anal Incontinence, Urinary IncontinenceArmsAntenatal perineal massage
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

24 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 69 citations in OpenAlex.

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  12. Clinical guidance paper VVOG-CRGOLFB prevention and management of obstetrical perineal trauma.European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology: X · 2025
    Article
  13. Review
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  15. A physical therapy program to treat late-effect vaginal stenosis in gynecological cancer survivors: An interventional study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Ahmed Mohamed AbdelhakimKasr Al-Ainy, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, 395 Portsaid Street, Bab el-kalq, Cairo, 11638, Egypt. ahmed.m.rohei@students.kasralainy.edu.eg.
Elsayed EldesoukyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Ibrahim Abo ElmagdDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Attia MohammedDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Elsayed Aly FaragDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Abd Elhalim MohammedDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt.
Khaled M HamamFaculty of Medicine and Surgery, October 6 University, Giza, Egypt.
Ahmed Salah HusseinFaculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Ahmed Said AliFaculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Nawal Hamdy Ahmed KeshtaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Mohamed HamzaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Ahmed SamyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Ali Abdelhafeez Abdel-LatifDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Al-Azhar University · EGCairo University · EGOctober 6 University · EG

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introduction and hypothesisMost vaginal births are associated with trauma to the perineum. The morbidity associated with perineal trauma can be significant, especially when it leads to third- and fourth-degree perineal tears. We hypothesized that antenatal perineal massage could decrease the incidence of perineal trauma, particularly severe perineal tears and other postpartum complications.

methodsWe searched four different databases from inception until August 2019 for the available trials. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which assessed the effect of antenatal perineal massage (intervention group) versus control group (no antenatal perineal massage) in perineal trauma patients. Data were extracted from eligible studies and meta-analyzed using RevMan software. Primary outcomes were the risk of episiotomies and perineal tears. Secondary outcomes were perineal pain, second stage of labor duration, wound healing, anal incontinence, and Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min.

resultsEleven RCTs with 3467 patients were analyzed. Women who received antenatal perineal massage had significantly lower incidence of episiotomies (RR = 0.79, 95% CI [0.72, 0.87], p < 0.001) and perineal tears (RR = 0.79, 95% CI [0.67, 0.94], p = 0.007), particularly the risk of third- and fourth-degree perineal tears (p = 0.03). Better wound healing and less perineal pain were evident in the antenatal perineal massage group. Antenatal perineal massage reduced the second stage of labor duration (p = 0.005) and anal incontinence (p = 0.003) with significant improvement in Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02).

conclusionsAntenatal perineal massage is associated with a lower risk of severe perineal trauma and postpartum complications.

Indexed as

Obstetric Labor ComplicationsPerineumDelivery, ObstetricEpisiotomyFemaleHumansMassageMorbidityPostpartum PeriodPregnancyRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAntenatal perineal massageEpisiotomyPerineal traumaPrenatal perineal massage

Identifiers

PMID32399905
OpenAlexW3024082398

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.