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