Restoration of bladder neck activity and levator hiatus dimensions in Asian primipara: a prospective study

Figures & data

Table 1. Maternal characteristics and obstetrical characteristics.

Total study sample (N = 26)
Maternal characteristics
Maternal age (years), mean (SD)	27.9 (2.6)
Maternal BMI (kg/m^2) at 36 weeks of gestation, mean (SD)	25.4 (2.3)
Obstetrical characteristics
Gestational age at birth (weeks), mean (SD)	39.3 (0.7)
Foetal birth weight (g), mean (SD)	3358 (218)
Episiotomy (occurrences/total)	8/26
First-degree perineal tear (occurrences/total)	2/26
Second-forth degree perineal tear (occurrences/total)	0/26
Obstetric anal sphincter injuries	0/26

SD: standard deviation; BMI: body mass index.

Figure 1. Bladder neck descent at 36 weeks of gestation, and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks postpartum. *indicates significant difference from 36 weeks of gestation. #indicates significant difference from 12 weeks postpartum. Data presented as median with 95% confidence intervals (CIs); between-group differences assessed by One-way Repeated Measures ANOVA followed by Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference analysis; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Figure 2. Levator hiatus area at rest (2 A), contraction (2B) and during Valsalva manoeuvre (2 C) at 36 weeks of gestation, and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks postpartum. Data presented as median with 95% confidence interval (CI); between-group differences assessed by One-way Repeated Measures ANOVA followed by Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference analysis; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant, # indicates significant difference from 12 weeks postpartum, § indicates significant difference from 2 weeks postpartum.

Figure 3. Levator hiatus distensibility (3A) and contractility (3B) at 36 weeks gestation and at 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks postpartum. Data presented as median with 95% confidence interval (CI); between-group differences assessed by One-way Repeated Measures ANOVA followed by Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference analysis; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. # indicates significant difference from 12 weeks postpartum.