Prognosis of childbirth trauma

Abstract

An accepted risk factor for pelvic floor disorders is vaginal birth, and its concomitant birth trauma. Much of the effect is mitigated over the life span, with conflicting evidence and unclear causal and mechanistic explanations in the literature of the role of birth trauma. The greatest impact of vaginal birth trauma is on the incidence and prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse [1]. The prognosis of vaginal birth trauma on development or severity of urinary incontinence and anal incontinence is more difficult to determine because of the profound impact that aging has on these conditions. Immediately after birth, little is known about the sequelae of specific trauma other than in the short-term postpartum period. In what follows, we review the literature and aim to elucidate the role of birth trauma, its impact, and prognosis on a parous woman's pelvic floor.