Comparing male and female pelvic floor muscle function by the number and type of pelvic floor symptoms.

Aims: Pelvic floor symptoms (PFS), including lower urinary tract symptoms, defecation problems, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic pain, are common in males and females. Comparing pelvic floor musculature (PFM) function between sexes may reveal important differences relevant to clinical care. This study aimed to compare male and female PFM function and to assess the function of both sexes with the number and type of PFS.

Exploring concomitant pelvic floor symptoms in community-dwelling females and males.

Objectives: Researchers and clinicians tend to focus on one pelvic floor symptom (PFS) at the time. However, the pelvic floor acts as one functional unit, increasing the likelihood of concurrent PFS in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. There is also a paucity of literature on the prevalence of concomitant PFS, especially in males.

Exploring pelvic floor muscle function in men with and without pelvic floor symptoms: A population-based study.

Background: Pelvic floor symptoms (PFS), such as lower urinary tract symptoms, defecation disorders, sexual problems, and genital-pelvic pain, are prevalent in men. Thorough physical assessments of the external anal sphincter (EAS) and the puborectal muscle (PRM) are the keys to unraveling the role of muscle dysfunction.

Objectives: To explore associations within and between the EAS and PRM and between muscle (dys-) function and the number of male PFS.

One year effectiveness of an app-based treatment for urinary incontinence in comparison to care as usual in Dutch general practice: A pragmatic randomised controlled trial over 12 months.

Objective: To assess the long-term effectiveness of app-based treatment for female stress, urgency or mixed urinary incontinence (UI) compared with care-as-usual in primary care.

Design: A pragmatic, randomised controlled, superiority trial.

Setting: Primary care in the Netherlands from 2015 to 2018, follow up at 12 months.

An International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for pelvic floor muscle assessment.

Introduction: The terminology for female and male pelvic floor muscle (PFM) assessment has expanded considerably since the first PFM function and dysfunction standardization of terminology document in 2005. New terms have entered assessment reports, and new investigations to measure PFM function and dysfunction have been developed. An update of this terminology was required to comprehensively document the terms and their definitions, and to describe the assessment method and interpretation of the finding, to standardize assessment procedures and aid diagnostic decision making.

App-Based Treatment in Primary Care for Urinary Incontinence: A Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Electronic application (app)-based treatment is promising for common diseases with good conservative management options, such as urinary incontinence (UI) in women, but its effectiveness compared with usual care is unclear. This study set out to determine if app-based treatment for women with stress, urgency, or mixed UI was noninferior to usual care in the primary care setting.

Methods: The URinControl trial is a pragmatic, noninferiority randomized controlled trial in Dutch primary care including adult women with 2 episodes of UI per week.

The impact of a mobile application-based treatment for urinary incontinence in adult women: Design of a mixed-methods randomized controlled trial in a primary care setting.

Aims: We aim to assess whether a purpose-developed mobile application (app) is non-inferior regarding effectiveness and cost-effective when used to treat women with urinary incontinence (UI), as compared to care as usual in Dutch primary care. Additionally, we will explore the expectations and experiences of patients and care providers regarding app usage.

Methods: A mixed-methods study will be performed, combining a pragmatic, randomized-controlled, non-inferiority trial with an extensive process evaluation.

Dutch guidelines for physiotherapy in patients with stress urinary incontinence: an update.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most common form of incontinence impacting on quality of life (QOL) and is associated with high financial, social, and emotional costs. The purpose of this study was to provide an update existing Dutch evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for physiotherapy management of patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in order to support physiotherapists in decision making and improving efficacy and uniformity of care.

Materials And Methods: A computerized literature search of relevant databases was performed to search for information regarding etiology, prognosis, and physiotherapy assessment and management in patients with SUI.

The prevalence and risk factors of overactive bladder symptoms and its relation to pelvic organ prolapse symptoms in a general female population.

Introduction And Hypothesis: To study the prevalence and risk factors of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms and its relationship with symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including women aged between 45 and 85 years, registered in eight general practices. All women were asked to self complete the validated Dutch translated questionnaires.

Pelvic floor muscle function in a general population of women with and without pelvic organ prolapse.

Introduction And Hypothesis: This study aims to examine the relationship between pelvic floor muscle function (PFMF) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in a general female population.

Methods: Cross-sectional study on women aged 45-85 years. Validated questionnaires were used to assess pelvic floor muscle function.

Pelvic floor muscle function in a general female population in relation with age and parity and the relation between voluntary and involuntary contractions of the pelvic floor musculature.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The objective of this study is to describe pelvic floor muscle function (PFMF) in relation to age and parity in a general female population and to test whether strength/endurance measurements represent all functions of the pelvic floor musculature.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 95% of the women aged 45-85 years from a small Dutch town. Validated questionnaires were used to obtain general information, and vaginal examination to test PFMF was performed on 649 women.

Prevalence of double incontinence, risks and influence on quality of life in a general female population.

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) and anal incontinence (AI) are complaints with impact on quality of life (QOL). Few data are available on prevalence of double incontinence (DI) in the general female population.

Objective: To determine prevalence of UI, AI, and DI, their associations with age, parity, and effects on QOL.

Vaginal noise: prevalence, bother and risk factors in a general female population aged 45-85 years.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Vaginal noise (VN) is a symptom of pelvic floor (PF) dysfunction and has been described in a few studies. No other risk factors have been described besides parity and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Underlying mechanisms of VN are unclear.

The prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse symptoms and signs and their relation with bladder and bowel disorders in a general female population.

Introduction And Hypothesis: In selected populations, pelvic organ prolapse (POP) was associated with bladder/bowel symptoms, but data on the general female population are lacking. Our aim was to obtain normative data on the prevalence of POP and pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) symptoms and signs and to identify associations.

Methods: Validated questionnaires on POP and PFD (urogenital distress inventory, (UDI) and defaecation distress inventory (DDI)) were sent to a general population of 2,979 women (aged 45-85 years).

Prediction model and prognostic index to estimate clinically relevant pelvic organ prolapse in a general female population.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Estimation on prevalence and distribution of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) signs in a general female population is difficult. We therefore developed and validated a prediction model and prognostic instrument.

Methods: Questionnaires were sent to a general female population (45-85 years).

Symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse and possible risk factors in a general population.

Objective: We sought to examine the prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms and risk factors in a general white population.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study. All female residents aged 45-85 years in a small Dutch city received validated questionnaires.

Relations between pregnancy-related low back pain, pelvic floor activity and pelvic floor dysfunction.

To assess the occurrence of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in pregnancy- related low back and pelvic pain (PLBP) patients, a cross-sectional study was performed, comprising 77 subjects. Each subject underwent physical assessment, and filled in the Urogenital Distress Inventory completed with gynaecological questions. Differences in the presence of PFD between PLBP patients and healthy controls as well as differences in pelvic floor muscle activity were tested for significance.