ArticleActa obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica2023
Sonographic postpartum anal sphincter defects and the association with pelvic floor pain and dyspareunia.
Article in Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 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
- Postpartum perineal pain and its association with sub-classified second-degree tears and perineal trauma-A follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2024Trial
- IUGA International Guidelines on Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries.International urogynecology journal · 2026Article
- Evaluation of sexual function after obstetric anal sphincter injury: a 12-year follow-up cohort study.Sexual medicine · 2026Article
- Pain Management for Postpartum Pain: A Narrative Review.Journal of pain research · 2025Review
- Understanding and addressing female pelvic pain - a multifaceted challenge.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2023Article
- Sonographic postpartum anal sphincter defects and the association with pelvic floor pain and dyspareunia.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
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Abstract
introductionPelvic floor pain and dyspareunia are both important entities of postpartum pelvic pain, often concomitant and associated with perineal tears during vaginal delivery. The association between postpartum sonographic anal sphincter defects, pelvic floor pain, and dyspareunia has not been fully established. We aimed to determine the prevalence of postpartum anal sphincter defects using three-dimensional endoanal ultrasonography (3D-EAUS) and evaluate their association with symptoms of pelvic floor pain and dyspareunia. MATERIAL AND
methodsThis prospective cohort study followed 239 primiparas from birth to 12 months post delivery. Anal sphincters were assessed with 3D-EAUS 3 months postpartum, and self-reported pelvic floor function data were obtained using a web-based questionnaire distributed 1 year after delivery. Descriptive statistics were compared between the patients with and without sonographic defects, and the association between sonographic sphincter defects and outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression.
resultsAt 3 months postpartum, 48/239 (20%) patients had anal sphincter defects on 3D-EAUS, of which 43 (18%) were not clinically diagnosed with obstetric anal sphincter injury at the time of delivery. Patients with sonographic defects had higher fetal weight than those without defects, and a perineum <2 cm before the suture was a risk factor for defects (odds ratio [OR], 6.9). Patients with sonographic defects had a higher frequency of dyspareunia (OR, 2.4), and pelvic floor pain (OR, 2.3) than those without defects.
conclusionsOur results suggest an association between postpartum sonographic anal sphincter defects, pelvic floor pain, and dyspareunia. A perineal height <2 cm, measured by bidigital palpation immediately postdelivery, was a risk factor for sonographic anal sphincter defect. We suggest offering pelvic floor sonography around 3 months postpartum to high- risk women to optimize diagnosis and treatment of perineal tears and include perineum <2 cm prior to primary repair as a proposed indication for postpartum follow-up sonography.
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