Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40979950›Full record

ReviewSexual medicine2025

Effects of pelvic floor muscle training on sexual function of postmenopausal women. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Raquel García-Laria, Alejandra Alonso-Calvete, Lorenzo Justo-Cousiño, Iria Da Cuña-Carrera, Mercedes Soto-González

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Sexual medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Observational
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

5 authors.

Raquel García-LariaFaculty of Physiotherapy, University of Vigo, Vigo, PC 36001, Spain.
Alejandra Alonso-CalveteFaculty of Physiotherapy, University of Vigo, Vigo, PC 36001, Spain.
Lorenzo Justo-CousiñoFaculty of Physiotherapy, University of Vigo, Vigo, PC 36001, Spain.
Iria Da Cuña-CarreraFaculty of Physiotherapy, University of Vigo, Vigo, PC 36001, Spain.
Mercedes Soto-GonzálezFaculty of Physiotherapy, University of Vigo, Vigo, PC 36001, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: During postmenopause, women frequently experience genitourinary symptoms that may result in sexual dysfunctions. Common treatments include hormone replacement therapy or vaginal lubricants. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) has been observed to have beneficial effects on sexual function in other groups of women. Aim: To evaluate the effect of PFMT on sexual function in postmenopausal women. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in June 2025, in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline, CINAHL databases, and the Google Scholar search engine. Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trial articles published in English, in which at least one intervention addressed the study objective. A meta-analysis was conducted with a random-effects model. Results: A total of five studies were selected after applying eligibility criteria. All included articles implemented PFMT interventions, showing improvements in sexual function as assessed by the Female Sexual Function Index. A significant positive effect was shown in the total score of Female Sexual Function Index in experimental group in comparison with control group ( Strengths and Limitations: Although this is the first meta-analysis to address this topic in postmenopausal women, the results are heterogeneous and the scientific evidence remains limited. Conclusion: PFMT appears to have positive effects on sexual function in postmenopausal women, particularly in aspects such as orgasm, arousal, and satisfaction.

Indexed as

Kegel exercisespelvic floor muscle trainingphysiotherapypostmenopausesexual dysfunction

Identifiers

PMID40979950
PMCPMC12449232

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.