Knowledge of pelvic floor disorders in young women: a cross-sectional study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/fm.2022.35607

Keywords:

Adolescent. Health education. Pelvic floor disorders. Primary prevention. Women’s health.

Abstract

Introduction: Young women’s knowledge about pelvic floor function and dysfunction are poor. Objective: To identify the level of knowledge of young women about pelvic floor muscles (PFM) anatomy and function, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (PFMD), pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and sexual dysfunction (SD). Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Two hundred forty-two (242) young women from first to the third year of high school from ten public schools, in geographically disparate areas of a Brazilian county serving economic minority student populations, participated in the study. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). The categorical data were expressed as absolute and relative frequency. Results: Only 28% of the young women knew PFM, and 26% answered to be able to contract these muscles. The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 16%, while 5% reported fecal incontinence. The previous knowledge about POP was similar between bladder and uterus prolapse, 34% and 40%, respectively. SD was known by 48% of the young women. Seventy-seven young women (31.8%) declared to have had sexual intercourse. Ten percent declared difficulties to allow vaginal penetration, and 48% of those who were able to have penetration declared that they experienced pain and discomfort. Conclusion: Young women have little knowledge about the PFM anatomy and function, PFMD, POP, and SD. In addition, they have complaints related to sexual practice, such as difficulty during vaginal penetration and pain.

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Author Biographies

Caroline Baldini Prudencio, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Department of Tocogynecology, Botucatu Medical School

Guilherme Thomaz de Aquino Nava, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Department of Physical Education, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro

Bruna Rosa de Souza, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, School of Philosophy and Sciences

Aline Medolago Carr, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Department of Tocogynecology, Botucatu Medical School

Raissa Escandiusi Avramidis, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Department of Tocogynecology, Botucatu Medical School

Angelica Mercia Pascon Barbosa, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Department of Tocogynecology, Botucatu Medical School; Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, School of Philosophy and Sciences

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Published

2022-09-16

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