Flatus, Pelvic Floor Awareness, Postpartum, Postpartum Pelvic Floor Function and Symptoms
Conditions
Keywords
kegel exercises, pelvic floor exercises, postpartum period, vaginal gas, vaginal flatus
Brief summary
Title: Investigation of the Effects of Kegel Exercises on Vaginal Flatus Among Postpartum Women Brief Summary: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Kegel exercises in reducing vaginal flatus among postpartum women. Vaginal flatus, the involuntary passage of air through the vagina, is a common but often underreported pelvic floor dysfunction that can affect women's quality of life. A total of 40 postpartum women were randomly assigned to an experimental group (performing Kegel exercises) or a control group (no intervention). The experimental group performed Kegel exercises three times daily in different positions for six weeks. Vaginal flatus frequency and bother scores were assessed using a validated questionnaire, and sexual quality of life was evaluated with the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12).
Detailed description
This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness of Kegel exercises in reducing vaginal flatus among postpartum women. Vaginal flatus, the involuntary passage of air through the vagina, is a common but often overlooked pelvic floor dysfunction that can negatively impact women's quality of life. A total of 40 postpartum women were recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which performed Kegel exercises, or the control group, which received no intervention. Participants in the experimental group were instructed to perform Kegel exercises three times daily in different positions (supine, sitting, and standing) over six weeks. The intervention focused on strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through a combination of fast and slow contractions targeting both Type I and Type II muscle fibers. The primary outcome measures included vaginal flatus frequency and bother scores, which were assessed using a validated questionnaire before and after the intervention. Additionally, sexual quality of life was evaluated using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALKegel Exercises
Kegel exercises performed three times daily in different positions (supine, sitting, and standing) for three weeks, followed by a six-week home program
Sponsors
Istanbul Medipol University Hospital
merve yilmaz menek
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Participants and outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation to prevent bias insubjective evaluations
Intervention model description
This is a parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with two arms: an experimental group performing Kegel exercises and a control group receiving no intervention
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
20 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* being between the ages of 20-50, * being postpartum at least 6 weeks after the last birth, * having a complaint of vaginal flatus, and being willing to exercise
Exclusion criteria
* being over four months postpartum, * current pregnancy, * presence of pelvic infection, * inability to indicate whether there is vaginal flatus, * the presence of gynecological cancer.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Vaginal Flatus Frequency Reduction | Baseline to at least 6 weeks postpartum | The primary outcome is the change in vaginal flatus frequency, assessed via patient-reported questionnaire before and after the intervention. Smaller values indicate less flatus, while higher values signify an increase in flatus. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed