Performance of self-reported and unsupervised antenatal pelvic floor muscle training and its effects on postpartum stress urinary incontinence among Chinese women: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES: We investigated performance of antenatal pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) among Chinese pregnant women, to explore its effects on postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study in Shenzhen, China among 815 singleton pregnant women age ≥18 years, who were continent before pregnancy. Telephone follow-up was conducted at 6 weeks postpartum. Logistic univariable and multivariable regression analyses were used to estimate effects of antenatal PFMT (frequency and duration) on SUI postpartum among subgroups defined by SUI during pregnancy. The interactions of antenatal PFMT and PFMT duration on SUI postpartum were tested. RESULTS: Among 798 women included in the analysis, 127 (15.91%) had SUI at 6 weeks postpartum. Only 157 (19.67%) women performed antenatal PFMT, none under supervision. After adjusting potential confounders, neither frequency (odds ratio (OR) = 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89–1.32) nor duration (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.87–1.23) of antenatal PFMT was a significant factor in postpartum SUI. No interactions of antenatal PFMT and PFMT duration on SUI postpartum were found in any participants or subgroups. CONCLUSION: No effect of self-reported, unsupervised, self-initiated antenatal PFMT on SUI 6 weeks postpartum was found. Low doses and no supervision may have contributed to the negative results.