ArticleScientific reports2020
Comparison of pelvic floor dysfunction 6 years after uncomplicated vaginal versus elective cesarean deliveries: a cross-sectional study.
Article in Scientific reports, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Transperineal ultrasound-based outcomes of postpartum pelvic floor recovery after elective cesarean section versus vaginal delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Pooled it
- The Impact of Mode of Birth, and Episiotomy, on Postpartum Sexual Function in the Medium- and Longer-Term: An Integrative Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- The effect of pregnancy pilates-assisted childbirth preparation training on urinary incontinence and birth outcomes: a randomized-controlled study.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2024Trial
- KAPP-Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthcare Professionals on Postpartum Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Cross-Sectional Study from Germany.International urogynecology journal · 2026Article
- Article
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Postpartum Nepalese Women: An Observational Study.JNMA; journal of the Nepal Medical Association · 2026Observational
- The Use of Transperineal Ultrasonography to Compare Relevant Factors for Postpartum Urinary Incontinence Related to Different Modes of Delivery.International urogynecology journal · 2025Article
- Prevalence of Various Urogynaecological Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) in Relation to Mode of Delivery.Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology of India · 2025Article
- Magnetomyographic assessment of pelvic floor muscles compared to ultrasound during pregnancy.Physiological reports · 2025Article
- Pelvic floor-related sexual functioning in the first 24 months postpartum: Findings of a large cross-sectional study.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2025Article
- "I Felt Like I Was Cut in Two": Postcesarean Bodies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Switzerland.Culture, medicine and psychiatry · 2024Article
- Relationship between abnormal pelvic floor electromyography and obstetric factors in postpartum women: a cross-sectional study.BMC women's health · 2024Article
- Association of the second birth mode of delivery and interval with maternal pelvic floor changes: a prospective cohort study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Article
- Article
- Effects of Different Delivery Modes on Pelvic Floor Function in Parturients 6-8 Weeks after Delivery Using Transperineal Four-Dimensional Ultrasound.Disease markers · 2022Article
- Perianal Diseases in Pregnancy and After Childbirth: Frequency, Risk Factors, Impact on Women's Quality of Life and Treatment Methods.Frontiers in surgery · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Clinicians and patients have traditionally believed that elective cesarean section may protect against certain previously ineluctable consequences of labor, including a plethora of urinary, anorectal and sexual dysfunctions. We aimed to evaluate fecal, urinary and sexual symptoms 6 years postpartum, comparing uncomplicated vaginal delivery and elective cesarean delivery, and to assess their impact on quality of life. We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare perineal functional symptomatology between women having singleton elective cesarean deliveries (eCS) and singleton uncomplicated vaginal deliveries (uVD). Women who delivered 6 years before this study were chosen randomly from our hospital database. This database includes demographic, labor, and delivery information, as well as data regarding maternal and neonatal outcomes, all of which is collected at the time of delivery by the obstetrician. Four validated self-administrated questionnaires were sent by post to the participants: the short forms of the Urogenital Distress Inventory, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, Wexner fecal incontinence scale, and Female Sexual Function Index. Current socio-demographic details, physical characteristics, obstetrical history and mode of delivery at subsequent births were also registered using a self-reported questionnaire. A total of 309 women with uVD and 208 with eCS returned postal questionnaires. The response rate was 49%. Socio-demographic characteristics and fecal incontinence were similar between groups. After eCS, women reported significantly less urgency urinary incontinence (adjusted Relative Risk 0.55; 95% confidence interval 0.34-0.88) and stress incontinence (adjusted Relative Risk 0.53; 95% confidence interval 0.35-0.80) than after uVD. No difference in total Incontinence Impact Questionnaire score was found between both modes of delivery. Lower abdominal or genital pain (adjusted Relative Risk 1.58; 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.49) and pain related to sexual activity (adjusted Relative Risk 2.50; 95% confidence interval 1.19-5.26) were significantly more frequent after eCS than uVD. Six years postpartum, uVD is associated with urinary incontinence, while eCS is associated with sexual and urination pain.
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