SynthesisInternational urogynecology journal2020
The effect of antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercises on labour and birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in International urogynecology journal, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- The hidden power in the miracle of pregnancy: the effect of pelvic floor muscle training on fetal and fetal-maternal blood circulation and pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy, a randomized controlled trial.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Trial
- IUGA International Guidelines on Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries.International urogynecology journal · 2026Article
- Pregnant Pitches: Navigating Football Before and During Pregnancy.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Review
- The effect of a pelvic floor training program on perineal trauma during birth: a patient-preference controlled clinical trial.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Exploring the Mechanisms of Digital Health Technology-Driven Exercise During Pregnancy: A Realist Review.International journal of women's health · 2026Review
- Clinical guidance paper VVOG-CRGOLFB prevention and management of obstetrical perineal trauma.European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology: X · 2025Article
- Practice for Parturition: Does Sexual Activity Improve Labor and Birth Outcomes?Archives of sexual behavior · 2025Review
- Does Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Change the Hemodynamic Responses of the Inferior Vena Cava in Pregnant Women? A Prospective-Controlled Study.International urogynecology journal · 2024Article
- Pelvic organ prolapse: Women's experiences of Accessing Care & Recommendations for improvement.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- Comparison of First Childbirth Characteristics between Elite Judo Athletes and Non-Athletes: The Preliminary Retrospective Case-Control Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Aspects of Pelvic Floor Protection in Spontaneous Delivery - a Review.Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde · 2022Article
- Improving Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Adherence Among Pregnant Women: Validation Study.JMIR human factors · 2022Article
- Narrative review of pelvic floor muscle training for childbearing women-why, when, what, and how.International urogynecology journal · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introduction and hypothesisThe current data on the effectiveness of antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) on childbirth outcomes are limited. Therefore, in this study the effect of antenatal PFMEs on labour and birth outcomes was assessed by undertaking a meta-analysis.
methodsDatabases were systematically searched from 1988 until June 2019. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies were included. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using Cochrane Collaboration tools. The outcomes of interest were: duration of first and second stage of labour, episiotomy and perineal outcomes, mode of birth (spontaneous vaginal birth, instrumental birth and caesarean section) and fetal presentation. The mean difference (MD) and risk ratio RR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the association between PFME and the childbirth outcomes.
resultsA total of 16 articles were included (n = 2,829 women). PFME shortened the duration of the second stage of labour (MD: -20.90, 95%, CI: -31.82 to -9.97, I
conclusionAntenatal PFME may be effective at shortening the second stage of labour and reducing severe perineal trauma. These findings need to be interpreted considering the included studies' risk of bias. More high-quality RCTs are needed.
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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.