MR features of the levator ani muscle in the immediate postpartum following cesarean delivery.

Introduction And Hypothesis: We wanted to show that at the time of cesarean delivery, the active process of labor itself was sufficient to create early alterations of the pelvic floor musculature as detectable via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Thirty primipara patients underwent pelvic MRI between the second and third day after cesarean delivery. Ten patients had a cesarean without labor while 20 patients underwent urgent cesarean delivery after the onset of labor.