Factors affecting the bioelectrical activity of the pelvic floor muscles in menopausal women - an observational study

Abstract

During the perimenopausal and early postmenopausal periods, women experience several systemic and psychological changes. They mainly concern the genitourinary, central nervous, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular systems. Changes related to the aging process of the skin also play an important role. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of age, selected anthropometric data (such as body weight, body height, body mass index (BMI) and external dimensions of the pelvis), and the parameters included in the questionnaires on the bioelectric activity of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). Postmenopausal women achieved higher levels of resting and functional surface activity of pelvic floor muscle electromyography (sEMG PFM), indicating that PFM function improves over the years following menopause. Women who report significant symptoms of urinary incontinence had a lower PFM resting tone. This may prove significant functions of PFM, mainly during resting activity. However, this results requires further verification based on a larger study group and usage of specialized methods of assessing the degree and type of urinary incontinence.