Evaluation of Vaginal Laxity and Bladder Neck Descent in Parous Women Using 2D and 3D Transperineal Ultrasound

Overview

This study aims to evaluate vaginal laxity and bladder neck descent in women who have given birth, using non-invasive 2D and 3D transperineal ultrasound. Participants will complete a short questionnaire about pelvic floor symptoms and undergo a pelvic examination. The ultrasound will measure bladder neck position, levator hiatus dimensions, and related pelvic floor structures at rest and during straining. The study will compare findings between women with previous vaginal deliveries and those who had cesarean sections. Participation is voluntary, and all procedures are safe, non-invasive, and similar to routine clinical practice. The results will help better understand pelvic floor changes after childbirth and may improve the management of pelvic floor disorders.

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common condition affecting women after childbirth, often resulting in vaginal laxity, bladder neck descent, and related pelvic floor symptoms such as urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. This observational cross-sectional study will assess 185 parous women, aged 18 years or older, using both 2D and 3D transperineal ultrasound. Participants will complete the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 questionnaire and undergo a pelvic examination using the POP-Q system after bladder emptying. Ultrasound measurements will include bladder neck height, retrovesical angle, levator hiatal dimensions, levator ani muscle integrity, and other related parameters at rest and during Valsalva maneuver. Women will be categorized based on mode of delivery (vaginal vs cesarean) and results will be analyzed to determine correlations between pelvic floor anatomy and symptom severity. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of pelvic floor alterations in parous women, which may inform clinical assessment and management strategies for pelvic floor dysfunction.

Conditions