Author/Authors :
Haj Ebrahimi Sakineh نويسنده , Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi Sakineh نويسنده PhD. Assistant Professor, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi Sakineh , Ghaderi Fariba نويسنده , Mirghafourvand Mojgan نويسنده Department of Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz , Pourkhiz Zahra نويسنده Students’ Research Committee, Department of Midwifery,
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical
Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract :
Background Current evidence on the effect of pelvic floor muscle
(PFM) training for promoting sexual function is limited. Recent reviews
indicate need for high quality trials in this area. Objectives To
examine the effect of PFM training on sexual function (primary outcome),
sexual quality of life, and PFM strength (secondary outcomes) in
pregnant and postpartum women. Methods This was an assessor-blind two
parallel arm superiority trial. A total of 84 nulliparous women with a
singleton pregnancy at 17 - 20 weeks, aged 18 - 35 years, were recruited
using purposive sampling among clients of five public health centers or
two governmental maternity clinics in Sari-Iran. The recruitment was
done from May to November 2014 and follow up ended on July 2015.
Participants were equally allocated into either PFM training or routine
care groups using block randomization. Women allocated to the PFM group
received 4 sessions of supervised training, with practical, oral, and
written instructions on how to continue performing regular PFM exercises
at home. Female sexual function index, sexual quality of life
questionnaire-female, and Oxford scoring were used to assess the
outcomes at 28 - 30 weeks gestation and 80 - 90 days following birth.
Results There was one loss to follow-up from each group. A total of 6
women had not exercised regularly. Compared with the control group, the
mean total sexual function score was significantly greater in the PFM
training group during both pregnancy (29.3 vs 21.1; adjusted difference
9.4, 95%CI 7.7 to 11.0, P < 0.001) and postpartum (28.7 vs 16.0;
adjusted difference 13.0, 95%CI 12.1 to 13.9, P < 0.001). Also,
almost all domains of sexual function, sexual quality of life, and PFM
strength during both periods improved significantly in women who
received the PFM training compared with the controls. Conclusions Based
on the results, PFM training during pregnancy and postpartum could
improve sexual function in nulliparous women. Therefore, it should be
recommended to all of the women.
