Comparison of Electromyographic Evaluation of Pelvic Floor Muscles in Third Trimester Between Pregnant Women With and Without Urinary Incontinence

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the pelvic floor muscle function between pregnant women with and without urinary incontinence, in third trimester. Methods: Fifteen pregnant women with urinary incontinence and 25 pregnant women without urinary incontinence were included in study. The evaluation was conducted in two moments on third trimester: between the 24th and 28th gestational week and between the 34th and 36th gestational week, consisted on electromyographic evaluation of pelvic floor muscles function. Data were tabulated in Excel and statistically analyzed with the Statistica program. A significance level of 5% (P ≤ 0.05) was adopted. Results: The comparison between the groups showed significant difference, in first evaluation, on the mean and peak values of sustained contraction, and pregnant women with urinary incontinence had the worst values of the electrical signal related to these variables. The intragroup comparison, pregnant women with urinary incontinence had, at the end of pregnancy, higher mean values of the pelvic floor muscles electrical activity during maximal voluntary and sustained contractions, and greater peak value during maximal voluntary contraction. Conclusions: Pregnant women with urinary incontinence complaint had worse pelvic floor muscles function, compared to those without complaint. Thus, the pelvic floor muscle function is directly related to continence in pregnant women. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2015;4(4):297-301 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jcgo361w