Effects of Pelvic Exercises on Birth and Incontinence

The Effect of Pelvic Floor Exercises During Pregnancy on Obstetric Outcomes and Urinary Incontinence: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

The Effect of Pelvic Floor Exercises During Pregnancy on Obstetric Outcomes and Urinary Incontinence: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Maternal-Fetal Relations; Pelvic Floor Disorders; Birth, First; Incontinence, Urinary
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Pelvic Exercise Group

Detailed Description

The study is a randomized controlled trial. It will be conducted at Konya City Hospital between December 2025 and June 2026. A total of 151 primiparous pregnant women will be included in the study (intervention group n=75, control group n=76). The intervention group will receive a pelvic floor exercise program, while the control group will not perform any pelvic floor exercises. Data will be collected using a personal information form, a pre-labor and post-labor follow-up form, and the Michigan Incontinence Severity Index.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 151
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Seyhan Çankaya, PhD; Phone Number: 05054300733; Email: seyhane32@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Konya, Turkey (Türkiye), 42250
    • Recruiting
    • Seyhan Çankaya
    • Contact: Seyhan Çankaya, PhD; Phone Number: 05054300733; Email: seyhane32@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Registered in the hospital's prenatal school and actively participating in the 3-day training sessions,
• Aged between 18 and 35 years,
• Between 28 and 30 weeks of gestation,
• Having a singleton and low-risk pregnancy,
• Primiparous (expecting their first birth),
• Voluntarily agreeing to participate by signing the written informed consent form,
• Able to read, understand, and communicate in Turkish.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who have previously given birth vaginally or by cesarean section (multiparous women),
• Those with multiple pregnancies,
• Those who conceived through assisted reproductive techniques,
• Those diagnosed with serious obstetric or medical complications during pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, risk of preterm birth),
• Those with chronic constipation or cough,
• Those who are overweight or obese,
• Those with chronic or recurrent urinary tract infections,
• Those with a history of psychiatric diagnosis or currently receiving psychiatric treatment,
• Those with a diagnosis of or treatment for urinary incontinence,
• Those unable to regularly attend the education sessions or who discontinue the program,

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: No intervention; The control group will consist of pregnant women who do not do any pelvic floor exercises.	Other: Pelvic Exercise Group; Pregnant women in the exercise group will participate in an eight-week pelvic floor exercise program. The program begins with a face-to-face group training session during a childbirth preparation class at Konya City Hospital, in groups of 15, led by a midwife. Training covers pelvic floor anatomy, correct muscle identification, Kegel exercises, breathing, relaxation techniques, and exercise demonstrations. Following the session, participants will perform exercises three times a week for eight weeks, including Kegels, breathing-coordinated contractions, pelvic floor exercises in various positions, core stabilization exercises, and integration into daily activities. Weekly video materials will support proper exercise and motivation, and participants will record their practice in an exercise diary. At the end, experiences will be evaluated, and guidance for postpartum continuation will be provided.
Experimental: Intervention Group; Pregnant women in the exercise group will participate in an eight-week pelvic floor exercise program. The program begins with a face-to-face group training session during a childbirth preparation class at Konya City Hospital, in groups of 15, led by a midwife. Training covers pelvic floor anatomy, correct muscle identification, Kegel exercises, breathing, relaxation techniques, and exercise demonstrations. Following the session, participants will perform exercises three times a week for eight weeks, including Kegels, breathing-coordinated contractions, pelvic floor exercises in various positions, core stabilization exercises, and integration into daily activities. Weekly video materials will support proper exercise and motivation, and participants will record their practice in an exercise diary. At the end, experiences will be evaluated, and guidance for postpartum continuation will be provided.	Other: Pelvic Exercise Group; Pregnant women in the exercise group will participate in an eight-week pelvic floor exercise program. The program begins with a face-to-face group training session during a childbirth preparation class at Konya City Hospital, in groups of 15, led by a midwife. Training covers pelvic floor anatomy, correct muscle identification, Kegel exercises, breathing, relaxation techniques, and exercise demonstrations. Following the session, participants will perform exercises three times a week for eight weeks, including Kegels, breathing-coordinated contractions, pelvic floor exercises in various positions, core stabilization exercises, and integration into daily activities. Weekly video materials will support proper exercise and motivation, and participants will record their practice in an exercise diary. At the end, experiences will be evaluated, and guidance for postpartum continuation will be provided.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Comparison of the sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant women before the training with a survey.	Sociodemographic information of pregnant women will be collected through surveys, compared, and reported.	7 month
Comparison of obstetric characteristics of pregnant women before the training with a questionnaire.	Obstetric data of pregnant women will be collected through questionnaires, compared, and reported.	7 month
Comparison of delivery methods among pregnant women across groups.	Labor and postpartum data will be collected, compared, and reported using a follow-up form.	7 month
Comparison of the severity of episiotomy in pregnant women between groups.	Pregnancy and postpartum follow-up data will be collected, compared, and reported using a form.	7 month
Comparison of the Michigan Incontinence Severity Index for pregnant women between groups.	The Michigan Incontinence Severity Index (M-ISI) will be administered to pregnant women. The scale consists of three subscales: stress incontinence, urge incontinence, and pad use/discomfort. Each subscale is scored separately. The RM-ISI ranges from 0 to 40 points (min-max), a higher score indicates more severe symptoms/discomfort for the relevant subscale.	7 month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Selcuk University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 24, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 24, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): December 5, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 15, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 5, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Urinary Incontinence; Pelvic Floor Exercise; Obstetric Outcomes; Birth, First
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Urination Disorders; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Urological Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Urinary Incontinence; Pelvic Floor Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2025/1051

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