The relationship between ante-natal pelvic floor muscle exercises and post-partum stress incontinence

Background and Purpose The present study was undertaken to investigate whether there is any relationship between ante-natal pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) and post-partum stress incontinence. Methods Questionnaires were sent out at 34 weeks of pregnancy, and at eight weeks post-partum, to all women booked in at two hospitals in the North West of England. At 34 weeks, 717 women out of 918 who were sent the questionnaire responded (78%). At eight weeks post-partum, 572 women out of 894 women who were sent a questionnaire returned it (64%). The questionnaires were used to determine the prevalence of reported symptoms of stress incontinence and the frequency with which the women performed PFME. Maternal and obstetric data were obtained from every participant's medical record. The SPSS PC statistical package was used to determine relationships between PFME and stress incontinence, and to look for any differences between exercisers and non-exercisers. Results Women who performed ante-natal PFME several times per week, or on a daily basis, were less likely to report stress incontinence following delivery in comparison to women who exercised infrequently. Women who did not exercise their pelvic floor muscles were also less likely to report stress incontinence compared to infrequent exercisers. Exercises were found to differ from non-exercisers with respect to a number of maternal and obstetric variables. Conclusions There appears to be a relationship between ante-natal PFME and post-partum stress incontinence: women who exercise daily or several times per week are significantly less likely to report symptoms of stress incontinence (X2 = 14.5, df = 1, p = 0.006). This has implications for the provision of instruction in PFME to women during their child-bearing years.