Perineal body volume changes during normal pregnancy and delivery

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Perineal body volume changes during pregnancy and after delivery

• IRAS ID

  240722

• Contact name

  Simon Emery

• Contact email

  simon.emery@wales.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Hypothesis: Perineal body (PB) is arguably the most important structure within the pelvic floor responsible for continence mechanisms. The major muscles and fascial planes of the pelvic floor insert into the PB.Its integrity is vital for long-term support of pelvic organs especially urethra, bowel and uterus. Current midwifery and obstetric practice fail to recognise the importance of the PB and it is allowed to become disrupted during normal vaginal delivery. Failure to attend to this structure leads to long-term consequences. We wish to demonstrate the truth of this hypothesis by quantifying the changes in the three-dimensional volume of the PB resulting from pregnancy and childbirth.

  Aims: To establish a reliable, simple methodology to measure the three-dimensional volume of the PB.
  To establish a clinical classification of PB shape and volume.
  To determine normal mean perineal body volume in late pregnancy and after delivery by clinical and imaging estimation.

  Design: Pilot longitudinal observational study.

  Population: Women seen in fertility clinics, urogynaecology clinics, antenatal clinics and labour ward will be recruited over a period of May 2019- May 2020.

  Methodology:
  All patients, who give consent to participate in the study, will have symptoms and quality of life assessed with a Validated quality of life questionnaire (Australian Pelvic floor questionnaire) and will be clinically assessed with Pelvic organ prolapse- Quantification on vaginal examination, anal sphincter length on rectal examination and an ultrasound scan of perineal body.

• REC name

  Wales REC 3

• REC reference

  19/WA/0023

• Date of REC Opinion

  10 Jul 2019

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion