Reducing Perinatal Anal Incontinence Through Early Pelvic Floor Muscle Training: a Prospective Pilot Study

NCT ID: NCT02270008

Last Updated: 2016-01-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

15 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-10-31

Study Completion Date

2015-06-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Anal incontinence affects up to 20% of gravid women during and immediately after pregnancy. It can lead to embarrassment, poor self-image, lifestyle changes, in addition to poor hygiene and increased risk for genitourinary tract infection. These women suffer from a combination of loss of fecal and/or flatal control, with increasing frequency as pregnancy progresses. Though anal incontinence may subside in the postpartum period, a subset of women will have continued anal incontinence or recurrence of anal incontinence with subsequent pregnancies or as they age. As of December 2012, only one study has explored the effects of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on reducing the development of this condition in the pregnant population. However, that study took place in Scandinavia with little demographic correlation to a US population and lacked postpartum followup. Although their results showed little effect of PFMT on anal incontinence, they recommended further research to be performed prior to making definitive conclusions.

Multiple studies have explored the effects of PFMT on urinary incontinence, and the general consensus shows a positive benefit, with a 50% incidence reduction. This study will serve as an initial test to explore whether such a positive relationship holds for anal incontinence throughout pregnancy and postpartum period for a diverse population. The format will be a prospective feasibility trial comprised of a one-time intensive in-person pelvic floor muscle training course at the first prenatal visit with at home instructions for continued exercise. This group will be compared to a control group which receives a hand-out regarding PFMT but no personalized instruction. The progress of the participants and their symptoms of incontinence will be monitored during pregnancy and at the postpartum visit using standardized validated pelvic floor questionnaires, based on previously designed surveys. A sample size of 100 parous women ages 20-35 year old will be randomized to an intervention and "control or standard therapy" group. The investigators' hypothesis is that the intervention group will show a 50% risk reduction, similar to the urinary incontinence studies. The results of this study will then allow us to design a broader intervention study for which to study the effects of PFMT and anal incontinence during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Perinatal and Postpartum Anal Incontinence

Keywords

Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.

anal incontinence pregnancy-associated pelvic floor disorders

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Pelvic floor training

The intervention group will undergo an in-person standardized training session by a trained nurse practitioner. The intervention is the pelvic floor training session. They will then be asked to continue muscle training at home at regular intervals and asked to log their exercises on a standardized exercise diary that is provided to them.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Pelvic floor training

Intervention Type OTHER

Baseline muscle strength will be measured with the modified Oxford scale. The intervention group will undergo an in-person standardized pelvic strength training session by a trained nurse practitioner.

Literature-only group

The literature-only group will receive a pamphlet with instructions for pelvic floor muscle exercises; however, no in-person training will be administered.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Pelvic floor training

Baseline muscle strength will be measured with the modified Oxford scale. The intervention group will undergo an in-person standardized pelvic strength training session by a trained nurse practitioner.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* parous women
* ages 20-40year old
* a new Ob visit prior to 20 weeks gestation
* confirmed singleton live intrauterine pregnancy

Exclusion Criteria

* prior history of anal incontinence or prolapse
* history of surgery or procedures for urinary or anal incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse
* tobacco use
* diabetes mellitus
* history of sexual trauma
* chronic cough
* chronic constipation based on Rome criteria
* known connective tissue disorder
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Emory University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Deborah Karp

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Deborah Karp, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Emory University

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Emory University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Bo K, A H Haakstad L, Voldner N. Do pregnant women exercise their pelvic floor muscles? Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2007 Jul;18(7):733-6. doi: 10.1007/s00192-006-0235-2. Epub 2006 Nov 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17120174 (View on PubMed)

Brown SJ, Donath S, MacArthur C, McDonald EA, Krastev AH. Urinary incontinence in nulliparous women before and during pregnancy: prevalence, incidence, and associated risk factors. Int Urogynecol J. 2010 Feb;21(2):193-202. doi: 10.1007/s00192-009-1011-x. Epub 2009 Oct 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19834637 (View on PubMed)

Eason E, Labrecque M, Marcoux S, Mondor M. Anal incontinence after childbirth. CMAJ. 2002 Feb 5;166(3):326-30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11868640 (View on PubMed)

Fine P, Burgio K, Borello-France D, Richter H, Whitehead W, Weber A, Brown M; Pelvic Floor Disorders Network. Teaching and practicing of pelvic floor muscle exercises in primiparous women during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Jul;197(1):107.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.02.052.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17618779 (View on PubMed)

Fynes MM, Marshall K, Cassidy M, Behan M, Walsh D, O'Connell PR, O'Herlihy C. A prospective, randomized study comparing the effect of augmented biofeedback with sensory biofeedback alone on fecal incontinence after obstetric trauma. Dis Colon Rectum. 1999 Jun;42(6):753-8; discussion 758-61. doi: 10.1007/BF02236930.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10378599 (View on PubMed)

Glazener CM, Herbison GP, MacArthur C, Grant A, Wilson PD. Randomised controlled trial of conservative management of postnatal urinary and faecal incontinence: six year follow up. BMJ. 2005 Feb 12;330(7487):337. doi: 10.1136/bmj.38320.613461.82. Epub 2004 Dec 22.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15615766 (View on PubMed)

Glazener CM, Herbison GP, Wilson PD, MacArthur C, Lang GD, Gee H, Grant AM. Conservative management of persistent postnatal urinary and faecal incontinence: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2001 Sep 15;323(7313):593-6. doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7313.593.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11557703 (View on PubMed)

Hay-Smith J, Morkved S, Fairbrother KA, Herbison GP. Pelvic floor muscle training for prevention and treatment of urinary and faecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Oct 8;(4):CD007471. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007471.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18843750 (View on PubMed)

MacArthur C, Wilson D, Herbison P, Lancashire RJ, Hagen S, Toozs-Hobson P, Dean N, Glazener C; ProLong study group. Faecal incontinence persisting after childbirth: a 12 year longitudinal study. BJOG. 2013 Jan;120(2):169-179. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.12039. Epub 2012 Nov 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23190303 (View on PubMed)

Morkved S, Bo K, Schei B, Salvesen KA. Pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy to prevent urinary incontinence: a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Feb;101(2):313-9. doi: 10.1016/s0029-7844(02)02711-4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12576255 (View on PubMed)

Pollack J, Nordenstam J, Brismar S, Lopez A, Altman D, Zetterstrom J. Anal incontinence after vaginal delivery: a five-year prospective cohort study. Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Dec;104(6):1397-402. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000147597.45349.e8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15572505 (View on PubMed)

Reilly ET, Freeman RM, Waterfield MR, Waterfield AE, Steggles P, Pedlar F. Prevention of postpartum stress incontinence in primigravidae with increased bladder neck mobility: a randomised controlled trial of antenatal pelvic floor exercises. BJOG. 2002 Jan;109(1):68-76. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2002.t01-1-01116.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11845813 (View on PubMed)

Rortveit G, Daltveit AK, Hannestad YS, Hunskaar S; Norwegian EPINCONT Study. Urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery or cesarean section. N Engl J Med. 2003 Mar 6;348(10):900-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa021788.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12621134 (View on PubMed)

Signorello LB, Harlow BL, Chekos AK, Repke JT. Midline episiotomy and anal incontinence: retrospective cohort study. BMJ. 2000 Jan 8;320(7227):86-90. doi: 10.1136/bmj.320.7227.86.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10625261 (View on PubMed)

Stafne SN, Salvesen KA, Romundstad PR, Torjusen IH, Morkved S. Does regular exercise including pelvic floor muscle training prevent urinary and anal incontinence during pregnancy? A randomised controlled trial. BJOG. 2012 Sep;119(10):1270-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2012.03426.x. Epub 2012 Jul 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22804796 (View on PubMed)

Wesnes SL, Rortveit G, Bo K, Hunskaar S. Urinary incontinence during pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Apr;109(4):922-8. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000257120.23260.00.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17400855 (View on PubMed)

Whitford HM, Jones M. An exploration of the motivation of pregnant women to perform pelvic floor exercises using the revised theory of planned behaviour. Br J Health Psychol. 2011 Nov;16(4):761-78. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8287.2010.02013.x. Epub 2011 Jan 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21988063 (View on PubMed)

Woodley SJ, Lawrenson P, Boyle R, Cody JD, Morkved S, Kernohan A, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training for preventing and treating urinary and faecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 May 6;5(5):CD007471. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007471.pub4.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 32378735 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

IRB00065572

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id