Study Reveals Long-term Health Problems Related to Vaginal Delivery
The risk of lifelong pelvic floor disorders may be high among
mothers who have experienced one vaginal delivery than
having one cesarean section, according to an analysis,
pointing out urinary incontinence, prolapse, and fecal
incontinence as possible health risks that women may
develop 20 years after giving birth via the vaginal route.
The 2008 Swedish pregnancy, obesity, and pelvic floor
(SWEPOP) study, performed by gynecology expert Maria
Gyhagen, whose work was published in a thesis at the
Sahlgrenska Academy, reportedly zeroed in on the major
risk factors and prevalence of urinary, fecal incontinence,
and prolapse in mothers who have gone through vaginal
childbirth or cesarean delivery.
The study reportedly used information from the Medical
Birth Registry of women who have solely given birth to a child and had no further children between
1985 through 1988. Two decades after, study cohorts were reportedly sent questionnaires pertaining to
height, weight, urinary or fecal incontinence, genital prolapse, menstrual status, hysterectomy,
menopause and hormone treatment. After obtaining key information, the research showed study
results indicating that a 67 percent increased risk of urinary incontinence may be related to vaginal
delivery and the presence of urinary incontinence more than 10 years later also increased by 275
percent as opposed to cesarean birth.
The study further revealed that vaginal delivery is the strongest risk factor associated with symptomatic
prolapse. Symptomatic prolapse may also be attributable to birth weight above 4500g. Symptomatic
prolapse, in turn, may also be attributable to the onset of urinary incontinence. Greater prevalence of
fecal incontinence was seen in women after going through vaginal childbirth than cesarean section,
while women who had cesarean section, irrespective of the type (acute or elective), demonstrated no
difference in prevalence of urinary, fecal incontinence, and prolapse according to the study.
Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary problems such as stress urinary incontinence are some of the pelvic
floor disorders commonly experienced by women due to ageing, pregnancy, and childbirth, health
experts say. Mild to moderate symptoms in women may be addressed through self-care measures,
pelvic floor muscle training, behaviorial techniques, or a removable vaginal pessary. Dire cases of these
pelvic floor problems, on the other hand, may necessitate surgical intervention which may involve the
implantation of vaginal mesh.
Although the surgical procedure is generally safe, a string of adverse effects have been linked to these
medical products, reportedly leading to thousands of bladder mesh legal claims against major device
makers. The Bladder Mesh Lawsuit Center at bladdermeshlawsuit.us offers comprehensive information
about safety problems and related issues surrounding surgical mesh implants.
Sources:
sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130130082738.htm
health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0805c.shtml
fda.gov/downloads/medicaldevices/safety/alertsandnotices/UCM262760.pdf
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