Pelvic Floor Symptoms Across Menopausel Stages

July 7, 2026 updated by: Betül Çınar, Bezmialem Vakif University

Comparison of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Bowel Function, and Sexual Health Across Menopausal Stages in Women

The menopausal transition is associated with substantial hormonal alterations that may adversely affect lower urinary tract function, bowel function, and sexual health. Although these symptoms are common, few studies have comprehensively evaluated all three pelvic floor compartments across different menopausal stages.

The aim of this study is to compare lower urinary tract symptoms, bowel symptoms, and female sexual function among women in the perimenopausal, early postmenopausal, and late postmenopausal stages. In addition, the relationship between menopausal stage and symptom severity will be investigated.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

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

Menopause is characterized by estrogen deficiency, resulting in structural and functional alterations in pelvic floor tissues. Lower urinary tract symptoms, bowel dysfunction, and female sexual dysfunction are increasingly recognized as important health concerns during the menopausal transition.

Despite growing evidence regarding individual pelvic floor disorders, few studies have simultaneously evaluated urinary, colorectal, and sexual symptoms across different menopausal stages.

This study will classify women according to STRAW+10 criteria into:

Perimenopause Early postmenopause Late postmenopause

Participants will undergo a single assessment session. Demographic information together with validated questionnaires will be collected. No intervention or treatment will be provided.

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.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

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.
180

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

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
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Women aged 40-65 years attending the Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic who are classified as perimenopausal, early postmenopausal, or late postmenopausal according to the STRAW+10 criteria. Participants must have an intact uterus and at least one ovary and be able to read and understand Turkish.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female
  • Age 40-65 years
  • Intact uterus and at least one ovary
  • Perimenopause or postmenopause according to STRAW+10 criteria
  • Able to read and understand Turkish

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Hormone replacement therapy within the previous 6 months
  • Oral contraceptive use
  • Antipsychotic medication use
  • Previous pelvic surgery
  • Neurological or systemic diseases affecting bladder or bowel function
  • Active urinary tract or vaginal infection
  • Pelvic radiotherapy or chemotherapy history
  • Active gynecological or urological malignancy
  • Alcohol or substance abuse during the previous year

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
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.
Perimenopause
Perimenopausal women according to STRAW+10 criteria
Other: Assessment for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Lower urinary tract symptoms will be assessed using the validated Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and poorer urinary health-related quality of life.
Other: Assessment for Bowel Symptoms
Bowel symptoms and colorectal-anal distress will be evaluated using the Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and distress related to bowel dysfunction.
Other: Constipation Severity Assessment
Constipation severity will be assessed using the Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score. Higher scores represent more severe constipation symptoms.
Other: Sexual Function Assessment
Female sexual function will be assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index, a validated questionnaire evaluating desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Higher scores indicate better sexual function.
Early postmenopause
Early postmenopausal women according to STRAW+10 criteria
Other: Assessment for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Lower urinary tract symptoms will be assessed using the validated Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and poorer urinary health-related quality of life.
Other: Assessment for Bowel Symptoms
Bowel symptoms and colorectal-anal distress will be evaluated using the Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and distress related to bowel dysfunction.
Other: Constipation Severity Assessment
Constipation severity will be assessed using the Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score. Higher scores represent more severe constipation symptoms.
Other: Sexual Function Assessment
Female sexual function will be assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index, a validated questionnaire evaluating desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Higher scores indicate better sexual function.
Late postmenopause
Late postmenopausal women according to STRAW+10 criteria
Other: Assessment for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Lower urinary tract symptoms will be assessed using the validated Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and poorer urinary health-related quality of life.
Other: Assessment for Bowel Symptoms
Bowel symptoms and colorectal-anal distress will be evaluated using the Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and distress related to bowel dysfunction.
Other: Constipation Severity Assessment
Constipation severity will be assessed using the Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score. Higher scores represent more severe constipation symptoms.
Other: Sexual Function Assessment
Female sexual function will be assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index, a validated questionnaire evaluating desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Higher scores indicate better sexual function.

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
Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (BFLUTS) Score
Time Frame: Baseline (single assessment)
Lower urinary tract symptoms will be assessed using the validated Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and poorer urinary health-related quality of life
Baseline (single assessment)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8 (CRADI-8)
Time Frame: Baseline (single assessment)
Bowel symptoms and colorectal-anal distress will be evaluated using the Colorectal Anal Distress Inventory-8. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity and distress related to bowel dysfunction.
Baseline (single assessment)
Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score
Time Frame: Baseline (single assessment)
Constipation severity will be assessed using the Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score. Higher scores represent more severe constipation symptoms.
Baseline (single assessment)
Female Sexual Function Index
Time Frame: Baseline (single assessment)
Female sexual function will be assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index, a validated questionnaire evaluating desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Higher scores indicate better sexual function.
Baseline (single assessment)
Bristol Stool Form Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (single assessment)
The Bristol Stool Form Scale is a 7-category scale ranging from Type 1 (hard stools) to Type 7 (watery stools). Values range from 1 to 7. Lower scores indicate harder stool consistency, whereas higher scores indicate looser stool consistency.
Baseline (single assessment)

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.
Bezmialem Vakif University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Chair: Betul Cinar, PhD, Bezmialem Vakif University

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 (Estimated)

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.
July 6, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
September 6, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

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 6, 2026

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).
July 1, 2026

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.
July 1, 2026

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.
July 8, 2026

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.
July 9, 2026

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.
July 7, 2026

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.
July 1, 2026

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.
  • bvubcinar05

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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Drug Interventions

Conditions

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Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

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