Short summary

Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a wide recommended to women during pregnancy but it is not implemented into daily practice. The project aims to understand motivation and barriers regarding PFMT during pregnancy and together implement PFMT during pregnancy and investigate PFMT relations to pelvic floor disorders, sexual function and obstetric outcomes. The project consists of two main studies: a qualitative interview study and a hybrid type 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Rationale

Pregnancy and childbirth are one of the inciting factors in the development of pelvic floor disorders, such as urinary and anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and sexual dysfunction; that is why possible preventive measures should be applied prenatally. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a wide recommended preventive method to women during pregnancy but it is not implemented into daily practice. There is a gap between knowledge and clinical practice which leads to further investigation of issues and possible solutions regarding PFMT implementation. The project aims to understand motivation and barriers regarding PFMT during pregnancy and together implement PFMT during pregnancy and to investigate PFMT relations to pelvic floor disorders, sexual function and obstetric outcomes.

Description of the cohort

Participants will be recruited in the Region of the Southern Denmark, from Obstetrics and Gynecology departments (Aabenraa, Kolding, Esbjerg, Odense, Svendborg). Type of participants: - Study I (qualitative interview study): pregnant women in different stages of pregnancy, as well as women postpartum. Recruited from routine visits at the hospital or midwife consulations. - Study II (hybrid type 1 RCT): first time pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy will be recruited through visitations received from family practicioners regarding further pregnancy care.

Data and biological material

Data types included in the project: - data from the patient journal - general information and obstetric outcomes - questionnaire data - training frequency, outcomes on pelvic floor disorders and sexual function.

Collaborating researchers and departments

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Sønderjylland

• Finn Lauszus
• Christina Prinds

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kolding Hospital

• Mohammed Rohi Khalil

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Esbjerg Hospital

• Sidsel Elisabeth Bøggild Ipsen

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital

• Jan Stener Jørgensen