Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscles training on females’ sexual function throughout pregnancy and postpartum

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate effectiveness of pelvic floor muscles training on females’ sexual function throughout pregnancy and postpartum.Methods: A quasi experimental research design was applied at the antenatal clinic of Mansoura University hospital, Egypt. A purposive sample of 72 nulliparous singleton pregnant client free from any connotation affect sexual practice was studied. The subjects were allocated into two groups; control group received conventional antenatal and postnatal care, while the intervention group received the same care besides performing pelvic floor muscle exercise at 20 weeks pregnancy until 10-12 weeks postpartum. Female sexual function, sexual quality of life, and strength of the pelvic floor muscle contraction were evaluated at baseline, at 28-30 weeks gestation, and at 10-12 weeks postpartum, by using the female sexual function index scale, sexual quality of life-female, and the Oxford grading scale.Results: The total female sexual quality of life index scores in the intervention group were higher than those of the control group at the pregnancy and postpartum follow ups (22.3 ± 6.9 vs. 15.9 ± 6.8 & 26.0 ± 6.7 vs. 13.5 ± 6.3 respectively; p < .001). The sexual quality of life-female scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group at the pregnancy follow up evaluation (54.2 ± 15.9 vs. 36.9 ± 9.7 respectively, p < .001) and at the postpartum follow up evaluation (59.8 ± 13.5 vs. 30.3 ± 7.0 respectively, p < .001). The pelvic floor muscles strength was significantly better in the intervention group than in the control group at the pregnancy follow up evaluation and at the postpartum follow up evaluation.Conclusions: Pelvic floor muscle training during early gestation weeks was an effective tool for improvement of the female sexual function, sexual quality of life-female, and pelvic floor muscles strength during pregnancy and postpartum. Thus, it should be encouraged for pregnant mothers at early weeks and continued till postpartum.