Levator Ani Deficiency and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction 1 Year Postpartum: A Prospective Nested Case-Control Study.

Objective: First, to assess whether levator ani deficiency (LAD) is associated with pelvic floor dysfunction 1 year postpartum, including urinary, vaginal and bowel symptoms; and second, to explore at what cut-off of LAD score such pelvic floor dysfunction arises.

Design: Nested case-control study.

Setting: Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden.

Fecal incontinence and associated pelvic floor dysfunction during and one year after the first pregnancy.

Introduction: Obstetric anal sphincter injury is an important risk factor for postpartum fecal incontinence but few studies have reported fecal incontinence occurring, even during pregnancy. The first objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of fecal incontinence, obstructed defecation and vaginal bulging early and late in pregnancy and postpartum. The second objective was to assess the association between symptoms in pregnancy, delivery characteristics, and bowel and vaginal bulging symptoms at 1 year postpartum.

Sexual function in primiparous women: a prospective study.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The aim of this prospective study was to examine the impact of sociodemographic, pregnancy and obstetric characteristics on sexual function 12 months postpartum in primiparous women. We hypothesized that sexual function would decrease after childbirth.

Methods: Between 1 October 2014 and 1 October 2017, all nulliparous women in early pregnancy registering for maternity health care in Region Örebro County, Sweden, were invited to participate in this prospective study.

Stress and urgency urinary incontinence one year after a first birth-prevalence and risk factors. A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Few prospective studies have examined the effect of pregnancy and childbirth on stress and urgency urinary incontinence separately. The aim of the present study was to assess the extent to which pregnancy, vaginal delivery, and vaginal delivery characteristics affect the risk of significant stress and urgency incontinence 1 year after delivery.

Material And Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 670 nulliparous women from early pregnancy to 1 year partum.

Risk factors for perineal and vaginal tears in primiparous women - the prospective POPRACT-cohort study.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of second-degree perineal tears, obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI), and high vaginal tears in primiparous women, and to examine how sociodemographic and pregnancy characteristics, hereditary factors, obstetric management and the delivery process are associated with the incidence of these tears.

Methods: All nulliparous women registering at the maternity health care in Region Örebro County, Sweden, in early pregnancy between 1 October 2014 and 1 October 2017 were invited to participate in a prospective cohort study. Data on maternal and obstetric characteristics were extracted from questionnaires completed in early and late pregnancy, from a study-specific delivery protocol, and from the obstetric record system.

Development and validation of a protocol for documentation of obstetric perineal lacerations.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to develop a new protocol for documentation of perineal lacerations and to validate the latter against the most common obstetric record system in Sweden. The hypothesis was that the new protocol would render more complete data on perineal lacerations than the current documentation method.

Methods: A protocol for documentation of perineal lacerations was developed to be sufficiently comprehensive to serve research purposes.

Cost-effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in elective cesarean section.

Background: The proportion of pregnant women delivered by cesarean section has increased steadily during the past three decades. The risk of infection is 10-fold augmented after elective cesarean section compared to vaginal delivery. Antibiotic prophylaxis may reduce endometritis by 62% and superficial wound infection by 38% after elective cesarean section.