Long-term effect of perineal rupture on sexual function and pelvic floor muscle: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: More than 85% of women who undergo vaginal delivery will experience perineal rupture of various degrees, which can cause complications such as sexual dysfunction and dyspareunia. In addition, the effect of labor on pelvic floor muscles is also reported one year postpartum.METHODS: This retrospective cohort design was conducted at the education hospital of Hasanuddin University. Of 78 postpartum mothers were selected using a consecutive sampling. The FSFI scores were used for assessing sexual function and dyspareunia using a VPCQ score and analyzed using the Spearman correlation test.RESULTS: The FSFI score in the 3rd and 4th degree perineal rupture group was 22.33±5.56, and in the first and second degrees it was 25.76±5.40. There was a significant correlation between the degree of perineal rupture and sexual function (P=0.007, r=0.305). The score of VPCQ in the third and fourth degree perineal rupture group was 1.93±1.03, and in the first and second degrees it was 2.06±0.90, where the relationship with dyspareunia was not significant (P=0.869). Pelvic floor muscle strength in the third and fourth degrees was 38.22±9.30 cmH2O, and in the first and second degrees it was 35.92±9.80 cmH2O, both of which were above the cut-off value (10 cmH2O), the relationship between the degree of perineal rupture and muscle strength was P=0.388.CONCLUSIONS: There is a correlation between the degree of perineal rupture and sexual function, but there is no correlation between the degree of perineal rupture with dyspareunia and pelvic floor muscle strength at one year postpartum.

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