OP13.02: Pelvic floor biometries during the first singleton pregnancy in Chinese nulliparous women

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims at evaluating the pelvic floor biometries during the first pregnancy of Chinese nulliparous women. The relationship with pelvic floor symptoms was also explored. Methods: Nulliparous Chinese women with singleton pregnancies were recruited. They were assessed at 10–13 weeks, 26–28 weeks and 35–38 weeks of gestation. Trans-labial 3D-ultrasound was performed at rest, Valsalva maneuver (VM) and pelvic floor contraction (PFMC) during each visit. Stress urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence and dragging discomfort were also asked during each visit. Offline analysis of USG volume data sets were done by an investigator blinded to the information. Position of the anterior compartment (bladder neck vertical position), middle compartment (most inferior part of cervix) and posterior compartment (ano-rectal junction) and the hiatal dimensions were measured in a standard way. Results: In all, data of 187 women were reported here. Their mean age was 30.4 ± 4.0 years. There were significant descent of all three compartments and enlargement of hiatal area during rest, VM or PFMC as the pregnancy advanced. At second and third trimester, 54 (29%) and 60 (32%) women reported stress urinary incontinence, but there was no association with the bladder neck mobility. And 41 (22%) and 60 (32%) reported symptoms of dragging sensation but there was no association with the hiatal area. Conclusions: There were significant changes of pelvic floor biometries with descent of three compartments at rest, at VM and PFMC as pregnancy advanced. Stress urinary incontinence and dragging sensation were common during pregnancy; however, both were not associated with parameters of pelvic floor biometries.