Pelvic floor symptoms, sexual dysfunction, low back pain, and health-related quality of life among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Although lumbopelvic disorders are common during pregnancy, evidence regarding their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains limited. This study therefore aimed to assess the associations between urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, constipation, sexual dysfunction, low back pain, and HRQoL during pregnancy. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between these conditions and HRQoL among 375 pregnant women in Nicaragua. Pregnant women with these disorders had significantly poorer HRQoL than those without them. The physical component score was associated with urinary incontinence (β =  -0.22, 95 percent CI: -0.42 to -0.01), constipation (β =  -0.43, 95 percent CI: -0.64 to -0.21), sexual dysfunction (β =  -0.13, 95 percent CI: -0.24 to -0.02) and low back pain (β =  -0.75, 95 percent CI: -1.07 to -0.44). The mental component score was associated with constipation (β =  -0.41, 95 percent CI: -0.61 to -0.21 and sexual dysfunction (β =  -0.13, 95 percent CI: -0.23 to -0.02). In conclusion, this study suggests that urinary incontinence, constipation, sexual dysfunction, and low back pain may be associated with poor physical well-being during pregnancy. Constipation and sexual dysfunction may also be associated with poor mental HRQoL.