Which women do pelvic floor muscle exercises six months' postpartum?

Objectives: This study was undertaken to estimate the association between pelvic floor muscle training and demographic and health related factors that may influence pelvic floor muscle training postpartum.

Study Design: This analysis includes the first 17,978 women enrolled in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study who answered questions about pelvic floor muscle training (n = 17,744). We used logistic regression analyses, and the results are presented as crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% CI.

Results: Women doing regular pelvic floor muscle training were more educated, likely to participate in general fitness activities, and had more children. Women experiencing urinary leakage and pelvic girdle pain postpartum were also more likely to do pelvic floor muscle training (adjusted odds ratio = 1.26, 95% CI 1.18-1.35; adjusted odds ratio = 1.31, 95% CI 1.23-1.39). Those who smoked daily or were delivered by cesarean were less likely to do pelvic floor muscle training (adjusted odds ratio = 0.81, 95% CI 0.72-0.91; adjusted odds ratio = 0.56, 95% CI 0.51-0.61).

Conclusion: There is a need for more research concerning effective strategies to enhance postpartum pelvic floor muscle training.