Introduction and hypothesis: Postnatal pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) has a high prevalence and morbidity amongst parturient women. Women should be counselled regarding postnatal PFD. Our aim was to determine urogynaecology providers' knowledge of risk and protective factors for postnatal PFD, and to assess their practice patterns in postnatal PFD counselling.
Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to members of the European Urogynaecology Association (EUGA) and International Urogynaecology Association (IUGA). Data were collected on urogynaecology providers' demographics, awareness of pregnancy-related PFD risk and protective factors, beliefs surrounding PFD risk-estimate tools, practice patterns in PFD counselling, and personal or spousal preferences for using caesarean section (CS) as a means of postnatal PFD prevention.
Results: Overall, 372 healthcare providers responded to the survey, 84 from the EUGA and 288 from the IUGA. Most reported practicing as a urogynaecologist (67%) and or obstetrician (44%). An overwhelming majority of respondents were aware of the major risk and protective factors for PFD, and almost 60% believed that risk-estimate tools for PFD could be clinically useful. Many denied enquiring about symptoms of PFD prenatally and postnatally (33% and 25% respectively), and reported not routinely counselling on prevention of postnatal PFD (39%). Nearly 25% reported that they would prefer CS for themselves or their spouse for prevention of postnatal PFD.
Conclusion: Urogynaecology providers are aware of risk and protective factors for postnatal PFD, but many fail to educate patients on the topic. The development of an easy-use risk-estimate tool for postnatal PFD could improve counselling rates in the future.
Keywords: Pelvic floor dysfunction; Perinatal counselling; Postnatal pelvic floor dysfunction.