Pelvic Floor Dysfunction After Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Authors

Carolina de Alencar Ohi Garcia, José Ananias Vasconcelos Neto, Camila Teixeira Moreira Vasconcelos, Simony Lira do Nascimento

Published in

International urogynecology journal. Sep 12, 2026. Epub Sep 12, 2026.

Abstract

Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) compromise pelvic floor function and quality of life; prospective evidence from low-resource settings remains scarce. We hypothesised that OASIS would be associated with worse sexual function and greater pelvic floor distress than controls over the first 6 months postpartum.
Prospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary maternity unit in [Fortaleza, Ceará, northeastern Brazil] (2022-2024). Women with OASIS (n = 22) and controls without perineal injury (n = 69) were assessed using the PFDI-20, PFIQ-7, FSFI, and SF-36 at T0 (immediate postpartum), T1 (3 months), and T2 (6 months).
Mann-Whitney and Friedman/Dunn tests (α = 0.05).
Ninety-one women were enrolled (OASIS incidence 1.2%); factors associated with OASIS were nulliparity, vacuum-assisted delivery, elevated neonatal birthweight, and epidural analgesia. Sexual dysfunction occurred in both groups throughout follow-up; the OASIS group had worse Arousal and Pain scores at T2 (p = 0.013; p = 0.037). On the PFDI-20, bowel and urinary symptoms were more severe in the OASIS group at T1 (p = 0.014; p = 0.005), with a difference in total score at T2 (p = 0.048). On the PFIQ-7, greater symptom impact was observed in the OASIS group at T1 (p = 0.035) and T2 (p = 0.017). Overall quality of life (SF-36) was similar between groups.
OASIS were associated with worse sexual function and pelvic floor distress than controls from 3 months postpartum, confirming the study hypothesis; overall quality of life was similar between groups. Structured multidisciplinary postpartum follow-up addressing sexual function and pelvic floor rehabilitation is warranted for women with OASIS in low-resource settings.

PMID:
42730936
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Sep 2026.

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