Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39552618›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health2024

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is Self-Reported as a Minimally Effective, and Sometimes Harmful, Treatment for Pudendal Neuralgia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Jenny M Niedenfuehr, David M Stevens, Lindsey M King

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

3 authors.

Jenny M NiedenfuehrCollege of Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
David M StevensIndependent Researcher, Houston, Texas, USA.
Lindsey M KingDepartment of Health Services Research, Management & Policy, College of Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Pudendal neuralgia (PN) is a sexual pain disorder characterized as pain of the genital and/or perineal regions, and despite the lack of clinical evidence supporting its use, pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) is a recommended treatment for PN. Methods: An online anonymous cross-sectional survey was administered to participants through convenience sampling conducted on May 19 to September 19, 2023 to understand the self-reported efficacy of PFPT as a treatment for PN. Participants' measures included sociodemographics, Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), and satisfaction scores. Results: The average self-reported PGIC score among participants was 4.6 ± 1.3 (n = 144), indicating no to minimal improvement in symptoms. Most participants (66%) scored 4 or 5, suggesting no change to minimal improvement. Twelve percent of participants scored 3 or lower, indicating worsening of symptoms, and only 22% scored 6 or 7, indicating much or very much improvement of symptoms. Participants who only participated in PFPT (n = 24) had a lower PGIC score of 4.4 ± 1.3. For self-reported satisfaction with PFPT as a treatment for PN, participants self-reported a score of 4.9 ± 3.0, indicating slight dissatisfaction. For those who experienced symptom improvement, the median number of sessions before noticing improvement was five sessions. Conclusion: Based on self-reported results, PFPT is a minimally effective, and sometimes harmful, treatment for PN. Patients should receive greater transparency regarding the lack of efficacy of PFPT and its potential harm.

Indexed as

Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)Pelvic Floor Physical TherapyPudendal NeuralgiaSexual Pain

Identifiers

PMID39552618
PMCPMC11562905

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.