The management of pelvic floor dysfunction in pregnancy

Abstract

Physiological changes in pregnancy can trigger or worsen a variety of pelvic floor symptoms, including stress incontinence, overactive bladder, stress incontinence and prolapse. In order to minimize both physical and psychological morbidity in the short and long term, it is important for clinicians to appropriately stratify individual risk scores and identify and manage pelvic floor disorders during pregnancy. There has been an introduction of perinatal pelvic health services as part of a government review of pelvic health in pregnancy, which aim to prevent pelvic floor dysfunction following pregnancy but identifying women at risk and referring them onwards for support from physiotherapists or specialist nurses and midwives.

This review article aims to discuss the assessment tools, government initiatives and management options for common pelvic floor disorders during pregnancy.