About Pelvic Floor Muscle Training During Pregnancy (PFMT)
Definitions
Definitions
The pelvic floor
The pelvic floor consists of all the tissue that supports and closes off the bottom of the body. This includes the vaginal walls, the supporting structures of the uterus, and the pelvic floor muscles.
The pelvic floor muscles
The pelvic floor muscles include the muscles within the pelvic floor, including the sphincters around the urethra and anus. During pregnancy, these muscles are under increased pressure and play an important role during childbirth and postpartum recovery.
Pelvic floor disorders
Pelvic floor disorders – such as urinary and anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and sexual dysfunction – affect at least 25 % of all women, and the prevalence increases with age. Pregnancy and childbirth are major contributing factors, negatively affecting more than half of pregnant women.
Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT)
Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) consists of exercises, mostly known as Kegel exercises, which strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Regular training can improve muscle control and reduce the risk of pelvic floor problems after childbirth. It may also improve sexual function and birth outcomes, such as shortening labor duration.
Although the benefits of PFMT – especially for urinary incontinence – are well documented in many studies and recommended in the Danish national guidelines for maternity care, it is still not implemented in clinical practice. This gap between scientific evidence and real-world practice calls for further investigation into the challenges and possible solutions for implementing PFMT.
More information
More information about the pelvic floor (in Danish): Underlivets anatomi | Kvindekrop.dk | Styr på dit underliv
More information about pelvic floor muscle training (in Danish):