The impact of pregnancy and childbirth on pelvic sensation: a prospective cohort study.

Pelvic organ prolapse, urinary, bowel and sexual dysfunction, collectively called pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) affects 1 in 3 women and has a significant public health impact. The causes of PFD are not fully understood but involve injury to connective tissue and motor nerve during childbirth. Women with PFD also have sensory nerve impairment, and it is likely this occurs during childbirth, but this has never been investigated.

PROSPECT: 4- and 6-year follow-up of a randomised trial of surgery for vaginal prolapse.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Our aim was to compare the mid-term results of native tissue, biological xenograft and polypropylene mesh surgery for women with vaginal wall prolapse.

Methods: A total of 1348 women undergoing primary transvaginal repair of an anterior and/or posterior prolapse were recruited between January 2010 and August 2013 from 35 UK centres. They were randomised by remote allocation to native tissue surgery, biological xenograft or polypropylene mesh.

Public understanding of female genital anatomy and pelvic organ prolapse (POP); a questionnaire-based pilot study.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Health literacy underpins informed consent and shared decision-making. In gynaecology, this includes understanding of normal anatomy and urogenital disease. This study evaluated public knowledge of external female genital anatomy and pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

An assessment of techniques and practices used to elevate intra-abdominal pressure when assessing pelvic floor dysfunction.

Aims: To determine terminology and methods for raising intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) currently used by clinicians to assess pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and to measure the effect of these maneuvers on IAP.

Methods: Three-hundred questionnaires were distributed at two scientific meetings in the United Kingdom to determine methods clinicians used to raise IAP and their perceptions of these methods. Twenty healthy volunteers were also recruited to measure the effect of two methods of raising IAP: Valsalva maneuver (VM) and bear down maneuver (BDM).

Prospective study of anterior transobturator mesh kit (Prolift™) for the management of recurrent anterior vaginal wall prolapse.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Assessment of the 2-year outcome of anterior Prolift™ for women with recurrent anterior vaginal wall prolapse. This is a prospective study which was conducted in a tertiary unit in the North West of England and comprised 36 consecutive women with recurrent anterior vaginal wall prolapse.

Methods: Women were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 months and 2 years.

The long-term outcome of laparoscopic colposuspension: a 10-year cohort study.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The aim of this study is to provide long-term outcome data, at least 10 years, following laparoscopic colposuspension.

Methods: The study includes a control group who underwent open colposuspension. A consecutive series of 139 women who had undergone laparoscopic colposuspension were reviewed and compared to 52 women who had an open colposuspension in the same unit.

Which questionnaire? A psychometric evaluation of three patient-based outcome measures used to assess surgery for stress urinary incontinence.

Aims: The aim of the study was to further validate three patient-based outcome measures (PBOM) used to assess the outcome of surgery for stress urinary incontinence and to compare their psychometric properties with a view to determining the most appropriate measure for clinical use.

Methods: The work was embedded within a randomized controlled trial of laparoscopic and open colposuspension. The trial recruited 291 women from six centers.