| Heather |
| () |
| 09/29/09 12:10 PM |
|
Constipation: a potential cause of pelvic floor damage?
|
Constipation: a potential cause of pelvic floor damage?
Neurogastroenterology & Motility
Published Online: 17 Sep 2009
c. amselem *, a. puigdollers †, f. azpiroz ‡, c. sala *, s. videla ‡, x. fernández-fraga ‡, p. whorwell § & j.-r. malagelada ‡
*Pelvic Floor Institute, Barcelona, Spain
†Hospital de Mollet, Barcelona, Spain
‡Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
§Department of Medicine, University Hospital South Manchester, Manchester, UK
Address for Correspondence Fernando Azpiroz MD, Digestive System Research Unit, Hospital General Vall d'Hebron, 08035 – Barcelona, Spain.
Copyright © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
ABSTRACT
Background Pelvic floor damage is a major clinical problem usually attributed to obstetric injury. We speculated that constipation may also be an aetiological and preventable factor resulting from repeated stress on the perineum over many years, and this study aimed to test this hypothesis.
Methods
A total of 600 women attending a gynaecological clinic were assessed using a structured questionnaire gathering data on pelvic floor damage, constipation and obstetric trauma. Complete data were available on 596 subjects.
Key Results
The prevalence of pelvic floor damage was 10% (61/596). In this group, constipation was identified in 31% (19/61) of women and obstetric trauma in 31% (19/61). In the group without pelvic floor damage, constipation was present in 16% (86/535) and obstetric trauma in 16% (83/535). In univariate analysis, pelvic floor damage was associated with age (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03–1.08; P < 0.0001), constipation (OR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.31–4.26; P < 0.0001) and obstetric trauma (OR: 2.46; 95% CI: 1.37–4.45; P < 0.0028). In multivariate analysis, the OR for age was 1.05 (95% CI: 1.03–1.08; P < 0.0001), for constipation 2.35 (95% CI: 1.27–4.34; P < 0.0001) and for obstetric trauma 1.37 (95% CI: 0.72–2.62; P = 0.3398).
Conclusions & Inferences
Constipation appears to be as important as obstetric trauma in the development of pelvic floor damage. Thus, a more proactive approach to recognizing and treating constipation might significantly reduce the prevalence of this distressing problem.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122600426/abstract
