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Pelvic Floor Muscle Training During Pregnancy

Antenatal Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Nulliparous Women: A Hybrid Type 1 Randomised Controlled Trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07104292
Enrollment
804
Registered
2025-08-05
Start date
2025-10-27
Completion date
2028-08-01
Last updated
2026-10-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Urinary Incontinence, Anal Incontinence, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Sexual Dysfunction, Pelvic Floor Disorder

Keywords

Pelvic floor muscle training, Pregnancy, Nulliparous women, urinary incontinence, Pelvic floor disorders, sexual function, obstetric outcomes, implementation, Randomised controlled trial

Brief summary

The project seeks to investigate effectiveness of PFMT during pregnancy.

Detailed description

First-time pregnant women will be recruited through visitations received from family doctors in all obstetrics departments of the Southern Denmark Region. Women will be randomised into two groups: ( Pelvic Floor Muscle Training) PFMT and a control group (standard care). The women will receive an easily accessible, home-based PFMT program electronically in which they will be motivated to start and engage during pregnancy with continuity after birth. The data regarding pelvic floor disorders will be obtained at baseline, follow-ups once every trimester of pregnancy, as well as three months, and six months postpartum with further follow-up after the study. The data regarding obstetric outcomes will be collected from electronic patient records. For evaluation of implementation process, data regarding motivation and training acceptability will be obtained via questionnaire at the baseline and at follow-up together with telephonically interviews during pregnancy and postpartum.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALPFMT

A structured home-based pelvic floor muscle training programme consisting of progressive pelvic floor muscle exercises, training reminders as well as supportive information with educational materials and habit-building strategies. Participants are advised to perform pelvic floor muscle training three to five times per week during pregnancy and continue after birth.

BEHAVIORALStandard care

Routine antenatal care provided according to local clinical practice. This may include general information about pelvic floor muscle training but does not include access to the study programme, study application, structured training support, or study-specific reminders.

Sponsors

University of Southern Denmark
Lead SponsorOTHER
Kolding Sygehus
CollaboratorOTHER
Esbjerg Hospital - University Hospital of Southern Denmark
CollaboratorOTHER
Odense University Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
Hospital Sønderjylland
CollaboratorUNKNOWN

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* up to 12+6 weeks of gestation to receive invitation and up to 16+0 weeks of gestation to be enrolled * Para 0 (no previous birth or pregnancy \> 16 weeks of gestation) * Understands, writes, and reads fluently in Danish or English * Has a smart phone or computer/tablet to reach the training program

Exclusion criteria

* Severe psychiatric illness (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression or anxiety) * Active substance abuse * Acute social crises (e.g. homelessness, ongoing domestic violence, severe financial instability, lack of social support) * Women with limited capacity to provide informed consent (due to cognitive impairment or language barriers) * Previous pregnancy of \> 16 weeks of gestation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The presence of urinary incontinence (UI) at 3 months postpartumAt 3 months follow-up after giving birthInternational Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) score \> 0.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The presence of urinary incontinence at inclusionAt baseline: inclusionICIQ-UI SF score between 0-21. Outcome is defined if (ICIQ-UI SF total score \> 0) (binary outcome)
Urinary incontinence severity at inclusionAt baseline: inclusionICIQ-UI SF score between 0-21. Outcome is continuous
The presence of urinary incontinence at the 2nd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational age 26 weeks and 0 daysICIQ-UI SF score between 0-21. Outcome is defined if (ICIQ-UI SF total score \> 0) (binary outcome)
Urinary incontinence severity at the 2nd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational age 26 weeks and 0 daysICIQ-UI SF score between 0-21. Outome is continuous
The presence of urinary incontinence at the 3rd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational age 36 weeks and 0 daysICIQ-UI SF score between 0-21. Outcome is defined if (ICIQ-UI SF total score \> 0) (binary outcome)
Urinary incontinence severity at the 3rd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational age 36 weeks and 0 daysICIQ-UI SF score between 0-21. Outcome is continuous
The presence of urinary incontinence at 6 months postpartumAt follow-up at 6 months postpartumICIQ-UI SF score between 0-21. Outcome is defined if (ICIQ-UI SF total score \> 0) (binary
UI severity at 6 months postpartumAt follow-up at 6 months postpartumIICIQ-UI SF score between 0-21. Outcome is continuous
The presence of anal incontinence (AI) at inclusionAt baseline: inclusionColorectal-anal distress inventory 8 (CRAD-8), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome is binary and defined by positive response to any of the three questions about anal incontinence (question 9, 10 and 11)
Colorectal-anal symptoms severity at inclusionAt baseline: inclusionDefined by the CRAD-8 score (Colorectal-anal distress inventory 8), continuous outcome, Higher score indicates greater symptom severity
The presence of anal incontinence (AI) in the 2nd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational age 26 weeks and 0 daysColorectal-anal distress inventory 8 (CRAD-8), score 0-100. Outcome is binary and defined by positive response to any of the three questions about anal incontinence (question 9, 10 and 11)
Colorectal-anal symptoms severity 2nd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational age 26 weeks and 0 daysDefined by the CRAD-8 score (Colorectal-anal distress inventory 8), continuous outcome, Higher score indicates greater symptom severity
The presence of anal incontinence (AI) in the 3rd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational age 36 weeks and 0 daysColorectal-anal distress inventory 8 (CRAD-8), score 0-100. Outcome is binary and defined by positive response to any of the three questions about anal incontinence (question 9, 10 and 11)
Colorectal-anal symptoms severity 3rd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up at gestational age 36 weeks and 0 daysDefined by the CRAD-8 score (Colorectal-anal distress inventory 8), continuous outcome, Higher score indicates greater symptom severity
The presence of anal incontinence (AI) at 3 months postpartumAt follow-up 3 months postpartumColorectal-anal distress inventory 8 (CRAD-8), score 0-100. Outcome is binary and defined by positive response to any of the three questions about anal incontinence (question 9, 10 and 11)
Colorectal-anal symptoms severity 3 months postpartumAt follow-up 3 months postpartumDefined by the CRAD-8 score (Colorectal-anal distress inventory 8), continuous outcome, Higher score indicates greater symptom severity
The presence of anal incontinence (AI) at 6 months postpartumAt follow-up 6 months postpartumColorectal-anal distress inventory 8 (CRAD-8), score 0-100. Outcome is binary and defined by positive response to any of the three questions about anal incontinence (question 9, 10 and 11)
Colorectal-anal symptoms severity 6 months postpartumAt the follow-up at 6 months postpartumDefined by the CRAD-8 score (Colorectal-anal distress inventory 8), continuous outcome, Higher score indicates greater symptom severity
The presence of sexual dysfunction at inclusionAt baseline: inclusionFemale Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) score between 2 to 30. Outcome is defined if FSFI-6 score is ≤ 19
Sexual dysfunction severity at inclusionAt baseline: inclusionFemale Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) score between 2 to 30. Outcome is continuous
The presence of sexual dysfunction at inclusion, during the 2nd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up at gestational age 26 weeks and 0 daysFemale Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) score between 2 to 30. Outcome is defined if FSFI-6 score is ≤ 19
Sexual dysfunction severity at inclusion, during the 2nd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational Age 26 weeks and 0 daysFemale Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) score between 2 to 30. Outcome is continuous. Lower scores indicate poorer sexual functioning
The presence of sexual dysfunction at inclusion, during the 3rd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up at gestational Age 36 weeks and 0 daysFemale Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) score between 2 to 30. Outcome is defined if FSFI-6 score is ≤ 19
Sexual dysfunction severity at inclusion, during the 3rd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational Age 36 weeks and 0 daysFemale Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) score between 2 to 30. Outcome is continuous. Lower scores indicate poorer sexual functioning
The presence of sexual dysfunction at 3 month postpartumAt the follow-up at 3 month postpartumFemale Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) score between 2 to 30. Outcome is defined if FSFI-6 score is ≤ 19. Lower scores indicate poorer sexual functioning
Sexual dysfunction severity at 3 month postpartumAt the follow-up at 3 month postpartumFemale Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) score between 2 to 30. Outcome is continuous. Lower scores indicate poorer sexual functioning
The presence of sexual dysfunction at 6month postpartumAt the follow-up at 6 month postpartumFemale Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) score between 2 to 30. Outcome is defined if FSFI-6 score is ≤ 19. Lower scores indicate poorer sexual functioning
Sexual dysfunction severity at 6months postpartumAt the follow-up at 6 month postpartumFemale Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) score between 2 to 30. Outcome is continuous. Lower scores indicate poorer sexual functioning
The presence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms at inclusionAt baseline: inclusionPelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome defined if POPDI-6 score \> 0
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms severity at inclusionAt baseline: inclusionPelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome is continuous
The presence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms, in the 2nd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational age 26 weeks and 0 daysPelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome defined if POPDI-6 score \> 0
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms severity, in the 2nd trimester of pregnancyAt follow-up gestational age 26 weeks and 0 daysPelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome is continuous
The presence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms, in the 3rd trimester of pregnancyAt the follow-up at gestational age 36 weeks and 0 daysPelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome defined if POPDI-6 score \> 0
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms severity, in the 3rd trimester of pregnancyAt the follow-up at gestational age 36 weeks and 0 daysPelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome is continuous
The presence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms at 3 months postpartumAt the follow-up at 3 months postpartumPelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome defined if POPDI-6 score \> 0
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms severity at 3 months postpartumAt the follow-up at 3 months postpartumPelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome is continuous
The presence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms at 6 months postpartumAt the follow-up at 6 months postpartumPelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome defined if POPDI-6 score \> 0
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms severity at 6 months postpartumAt the follow-up at 6 months postpartumPelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), a part of Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaire: score calculated by the mean value of all item scores (possible 0-4) multiplied by 25 to obtain the score (range 0 to 100). Outcome is continuous
Delivery modeThe outcome is registered in electronic patient journal during delivery, but the outcome will be collected during the first 3 months postpartum.Outcome is defined as categorical: vaginal, planned cesarean, emergency cesarean
Foetal positionThe outcome is registered in electronic patient journal during delivery, but the outcome will be collected during the first 3 months postpartum.Cephalic regular (occiput anterior), cephalic occiput posterior or breech. Outcome is categorical
EpisiotomyThe outcome is registered in electronic patient journal during delivery, but the outcome will be collected during the first 3 months postpartumYes or no. Outcome is binary
Perineal tearThe outcome is registered in electronic patient journal during delivery, but the outcome will be collected during the first 3 months postpartum.Yes or no; if yes - tear degree (1st, 2nd, 3rd (3a, 3b, 3c), 4th). Outcome is categorical
Instrumental deliveryThe outcome is registered in electronic patient journal during delivery, but the outcome will be collected during the first 3 months postpartum.Yes or no; if yes - type (vacuum assisted or forceps). Outcome is binary
Fidelity of PFMTThe questionnaire is filled every week from baseline to 6 months postpartumSelf-reported training frequency (0 times, 1-2 times, 3-4 times or more per week)
Implementation outcomesAt study completionCollected through short interviews
Proportion of participants reporting capability-, opportunity-, and motivation-related barriers and facilitators for pelvic floor muscle training.at the follow-up at gestational age 36 weeks and 0 daysCapability, Opportunity and Motivation (COM-B) related to pelvic floor muscle training, assessed using a study-specific COM-B Self-Evaluation Questionnaire. Participants may select one or more response options within the domains of capability, opportunity, and motivation. Participants may select one or more response options within the domains of capability, opportunity, and motivation. Responses are analysed as individual items (selected/not selected), and no total score is calculated. Therefore, minimum and maximum values are not applicable. A higher frequency of endorsement of a specific item indicates a greater perceived barrier, need, or facilitator related to pelvic floor muscle training.
Length of the first stage of deliveryThe outcome is registered in electronic patient journal during delivery, but the outcome will be collected during the first 3 months postpartum.Length in minutes (minimum 0 - no maximum)
Length of the passive second stage of deliveryThe outcome is registered in electronic patient journal during delivery, but the outcome will be collected during the first 3 months postpartum.Outcome is continuous and Length in minutes (minimum 0 - maximum 300 minutes).
Length of the active second stage of deliveryThe outcome is registered in electronic patient journal during delivery, but the outcome will be collected during the first 3 months postpartum.Outcome is continuous and Length in minutes (minimum 0 - maximum 300 minutes).

Countries

Denmark

Contacts

CONTACTGreta Puriene
greta.puriene@rsyd.dk+4571638335
CONTACTChristina Prinds
cprinds@health.sdu.dk+4565504953
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORGreta Puriene

Hospital Sønderjylland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Oct 9, 2026