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

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. © The International Urogynecological Association 2013.