Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise During Pregnancy

April 2, 2024 updated by: Elif Zahide Celebi, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC)

Evaluation of the Effect of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise During Pregnancy on Sexual Function, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Birth Process

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of pelvic floor muscle exercises during pregnancy on sexual function, lower urinary tract symptoms and birth process. The research was conducted with pregnant women who applied to the Pregnancy Outpatient Clinic of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine Hospital. Power analysis was performed to determine the number of samples to be included in the study. It was determined that 29 pregnant women should be included in each group (experimental and control). Considering the possibility of data loss, 50 pregnant women were included in each group. As a result of the exclusion of 8 women who withdrew from participating in the study, 5 women due to risky pregnancies (bleeding, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes) and 17 women due to cesarean delivery, the data of 35 pregnant women in the experimental group and 35 pregnant women in the control group were obtained. Pregnant women in the experimental group were gestational aged 18-20. Two sessions of training were given on female reproductive and urinary system anatomy, physiological changes during pregnancy and their effects on sexual life, and pelvic floor muscle exercises, using the "Pelvic Floor Health & Sexual Life Training Booklet during Pregnancy" and the pelvic floor muscle exercise training video developed by the researcher between the weeks of pregnancy. Pregnant women were asked to perform pelvic floor muscle exercises, 3 sets a day, 3 days a week, for 12 weeks, starting from the 20th week of pregnancy, and record them in the Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Follow-up Form created by the researcher. Pregnant women in the control group were not given any training and were routinely monitored in the outpatient clinic. Pregnant women who apply to the outpatient clinic are examined by nurses, with their vital signs taken and anamnesis taken by the physician. Recommendations are made regarding the complaints of pregnant women. Non-stress tests are routinely applied to pregnant women who are at the 36th week of pregnancy and above.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Purpose of the research This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of pelvic floor muscle exercises during pregnancy on sexual function, lower urinary tract symptoms and birth process.

Type of Research This research is of randomized controlled prospective type.

Place and Time the Research The research was conducted at the Pregnancy Outpatient Clinic of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, between December 2022 and October 2023.

Population and Sample of the Research The population of the research consisted of pregnant women who applied to the Pregnancy Outpatient Clinic of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. G*Power (3.1.9.7) Program was used to determine the sample number of pelvic floor muscle exercise (experimental group) and control groups. The Female Sexual Function Index was taken as the main parameter in the study. As a result of the power analysis performed with α=0.05 and power of 95% (effect size: 0.7), the sample was calculated as 29 pregnant women for each group. Considering that there may be losses during the study period, it was decided to include a total of 100 pregnant women between the ages of 18-40, including the experimental group (n = 50) and the control group (n = 50).

The numbers to be included in the sample were determined using the randomization program (www.randomizer.org).

As a result of the exclusion of 8 women who withdrew from participating in the study, 5 women due to risky pregnancies (bleeding, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes) and 17 women due to cesarean delivery, the data of 35 pregnant women in the experimental group and 35 pregnant women in the control group were obtained.

Research data were collected with "Personal Information Form" (between 18-20th week of pregnancy), "Female Sexual Function Index" (between 18-20th week of pregnancy and 32nd week of pregnancy), "Mid-term Evaluation Form" (26th week of pregnancy), "International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Long Form (ICIQ-FLUTS LF)" (between 18-20th week of pregnancy and 32nd week of pregnancy), "Birth Process Follow-up Form" (between 3-7th days after birth) and "Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Follow-up Form" (20-32 between weeks of pregnancy).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
70

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey
      • Istanbul, Turkey
        • Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Between the 18th and 20th weeks of gestation,
  • Nulliparous and single pregnancy,
  • Sexually active,
  • Body mass index before pregnancy <30,
  • Urinary incontinence and urinary infection are not diagnosed,
  • Not having a psychiatric illness,
  • The spouse does not have sexual dysfunction.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant women under 18 weeks and older than 20 weeks,
  • Primiparous and multiparous,
  • High-risk pregnancy (multiple pregnancy, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, pregnancy with assisted reproductive techniques),
  • Pregnant women who are scheduled for elective cesarean section,
  • Those who give birth by cesarean section.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Experimental Group
Two sessions of training were given using the "Pelvic Floor Health & Sexual Life in Pregnancy Training Booklet" and the pelvic floor muscle exercise training video developed by the researcher between 18-20 weeks of pregnancy. Before the training, the FSFI and the ICIQ-FLUTS LF were administered to the pregnant women. Pregnant women were asked to perform pelvic floor muscle exercises, 3 sets a day, 3 days a week, for 12 weeks, starting from the 20th week of pregnancy, and record them in the Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Follow-up Form created by the researcher. By scanning the literature, 1 set of exercise was determined as 8-12 slow contractions (6-8 seconds) followed by 3-4 fast contractions (1 second).
Other: Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise
A 12-week pelvic floor muscle exercise program was applied to pregnant women.
No Intervention: Control Group

Pregnant women in the control group were not trained and routine follow-up was performed in the outpatient clinic.

Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Long Form (ICIQ-FLUTS LF) at 18-20 weeks of gestation, Mid-term Evaluation Form at 26 weeks of gestation and FSFI and ICIQ-FLUTS LF at 32 weeks of gestation were applied to pregnant women in the control group participating in the study. Data on the birth process were collected between 3-7th days after birth with the Birth Process Follow-up Form.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sexual Function
Time Frame: 12 weeks
The outcome is sexual function of pregnant women. It will be measured with FSFI.
12 weeks
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Time Frame: 12 weeks
The outcome is lower urinary tract symptoms of pregnant women. It will be measured with ICIQ-FLUTS LF.
12 weeks
Birth Process
Time Frame: 18 weeks
The outcome is birth outcomes. It will be evaluated with Birth Process Follow-up Form.
18 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC)

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 5, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 6, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 28, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 25, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 28, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 3, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 2, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • E-74555795-050.01.04-392120

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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