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

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

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 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

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
Intervention / Treatment
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

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

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

Bezmialem Vakif University

Investigators

  • 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)

July 6, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 6, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 6, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 7, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID 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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