Impact of menopausal status on the outcome of pelvic floor physiotherapy in women with urinary incontinence

Int Urogynecol J. 2013 Dec;24(12):2071-6. doi: 10.1007/s00192-013-2179-7. Epub 2013 Jul 17.

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training in pre- and postmenopausal women using a quality-of-life questionnaire.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 96 patients with urinary incontinence who participated in a pelvic floor muscle-training (PFMT) program at the Physiotherapy Department in a London University Hospital between January 2010 and August 2011.

Results: A period of supervised PFMT resulted in significant improvement in symptoms of stress urinary incontinence, urge urinary incontinence, urgency, frequency, and nocturia, irrespective of menopausal status.

Conclusions: Pre- and postmenopausal women experience similar outcomes in relation to urinary symptoms following a short-term supervised PFMT.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Exercise Therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pelvic Floor / physiology
  • Postmenopause / physiology*
  • Premenopause / physiology*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress / physiopathology
  • Urinary Incontinence, Stress / therapy*
  • Urinary Incontinence, Urge / physiopathology
  • Urinary Incontinence, Urge / therapy*