SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi / 2025 / Volume: 12 Issue: 3

Knowledge and Practice of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise in Pregnant Women in the Third Trimester

Üçüncü Trimesterdeki Gebelerin Pelvik Taban Kas Egzersizi Bilme ve Uygulama Durumları

Aslıhan Aksu(Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)0000-0002-8416-3055
Fatma Keskin Töre(Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)0000-0001-5790-1705
Aysun Badem(Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)0000-0001-5684-7639
Pages
—
Publication Date
2025-12-31
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

It was found that 19.8% of the pregnant women had information about pelvic floor muscle exercises and 5.3% of those who had information described the exercise correctly.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and practice of pelvic floor exercises in pregnant women in the third trimester.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 with 378 pregnant women in the obstetrics and gynaecology outpatient clinics of a Health Practice and Research Hospital in Türkiye.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:It was found that 19.8% of the pregnant women had information about pelvic floor muscle exercises and 5.3% of those who had information described the exercise correctly.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:2023 Verileri
⚙️Variables:pregnancy · pelvic floor · exercise

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and practice of pelvic floor exercises in pregnant women in the third trimester. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 with 378 pregnant women in the obstetrics and gynaecology outpatient clinics of a Health Practice and Research Hospital in Türkiye. The data were collected with a data collection form prepared by the researchers in line with the literature. The data were analysed with descriptive statistical methods. Comparisons between groups were analysed by chi-square test and Fisher's Exact test. Frequency, percentage, median (maximum-minimum), mean and standard deviation values were used to summarise the results. Results: The mean age of the pregnant women in the third trimester was 28.33±5.50 years, 40.7% of them were primary/secondary school graduates, and 84.7% were not working. The mean gestational weeks were 30.71±5.36, and 29.9% were primigravida. In the study, the pregnant women stated that 28% of them involuntarily passed urine and 24.1% involuntarily passed gas. It was found that 19.8% of the pregnant women had information about pelvic floor muscle exercises and 5.3% of those who had information described the exercise correctly. It was found that only 9% of the pregnant women had practiced pelvic floor muscle exercises at any time in their lives, and 4.8% have been practicing pelvic floor muscle exercises. Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was observed that pregnant women had inadequate knowledge about pelvic floor muscle exercise and did not perform pelvic floor muscle exercise despite experiencing incontinence. It is important for pregnant women to have the correct knowledge and practice of pelvic floor muscle exercises to maintain pelvic floor health. To improve pelvic floor function during pregnancy, women should be made aware of these exercises and their skills should be developed before pregnancy and at an early age. In this context, it is important to plan and ensure the continuity of pelvic floor exercise training for young women at the beginning of their childbearing years.

Özet

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı üçüncü trimesterdeki gebelerin pelvik taban egzersizlerini bilme ve uygulama durumlarını belirlemektir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel tipte olan bu araştırma, Aralık 2023-Mart 2024 tarihleri arasında Türkiye’de bulunan bir Sağlık Uygulama ve Araştırma Hastanesi’nin kadın hastalıkları ve doğum polikliniklerinde, 378 gebe ile yürütülmüştür. Veriler araştırmacılar tarafından literatür doğrultusunda hazırlanan veri toplama formu ile toplanmıştır. Veriler, tanımlayıcı istatistik yöntemleri ile analiz edilmiştir. Gruplar arası karşılaştırmalar ki-kare testi ve Fisher Exact testi ile analiz edilmiştir. Sonuçların özetlenmesinde frekans, yüzde, medyan (maksimum-minimum), ortalama ve standart sapma değerleri kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Üçüncü trimesterde olan gebelerin yaş ortalamasının 28.33±5.50 olduğu, %40.7’sinin ilkokul/ortaokul mezunu olduğu ve %84.7’sinin çalışmadığı belirlenmiştir. Gebelik hafta ortalamalarının 30.71±5.36 olduğu ve %29.9’unun primigravida olduğu bulunmuştur. Araştırmada gebelerin %28’i istemsiz olarak idrar ve %24.1’i istemsiz olarak gaz kaçırdığını ifade etmiştir. Gebelerin %19.8’inin pelvik taban kas egzersizleri hakkında bilgisi olduğu, bilgisi olanların %5.3’ünün egzersizin yapılışını doğru olarak tanımladığı saptamıştır. Gebelerin yalnızca %9’unun hayatının herhangi bir döneminde ve %4.8’inin halen pelvik taban kas egzersizini uyguladığı bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Çalışma sonucunda gebelerin pelvik taban kas egzersizi hakkında bilgilerinin yetersiz olduğu ve inkontinans yaşamalarına rağmen pelvik taban kas egzersizi uygulamadıkları görülmektedir. Gebelerin pelvik taban sağlığını korumak pelvik taban kas egzersizlerine ilişkin doğru bilgi ve uygulamalara sahip olmaları büyük önem taşımaktadır. Gebelik döneminde pelvik taban fonksiyonlarını iyileştirmek için, kadınların gebelikten önce ve erken yaşlarda bu egzersizlere ilişkin farkındalıkları artırılmalı ve becerileri geliştirilmelidir. Bu bağlamda doğurganlık çağının başlarında genç kadınları hedef alan pelvik taban kas egzersizine ilişkin eğitimlerin planlanması ve sürekliliğinin sağlanması önemli bir ihtiyaçtır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Aksu, A., Töre, F. K., Badem, A. (2025). Knowledge and Practice of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise in Pregnant Women in the Third Trimester. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, Volume: 12 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.21020/husbfd.1475261

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (47)

  1. Atan, I. K., Zhang, W., Shek, K. L., & Dietz, H. P. (2021). Does pregnancy affect pelvic floor functional anatomy? A retrospective study. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 259, 26-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2021.01.047
  2. Cacciari, L. P., Dumoilin, C., & Hay-Smith, E. J. (2019). Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women: a cochrane systematic review abridged republication. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 23(2), 93-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2019.01.002
  3. Cho, S. T., & Kim, K. H. (2021). Pelvic floor muscle exercise and training for coping with urinary incontinence. Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 17(6), 379. https://doi.org/10.12965/jer.2142666.333
  4. Daly, D., Cusack, C., & Begley, C. (2019). Learning about pelvic floor muscle exercises before and during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study. International Urogynecology Journal, 30, 965-975. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-018-3848-3
  5. Davenport, M. H., Nagpal, T. S., Mottola, M. F., Skow, R. J., Riske, L., Poitras, V. J.,. & Ruchat, S. M. (2018). Prenatal exercise (including but not limited to pelvic floor muscle training) and urinary incontinence during and following pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(21), 1397-1404. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099780
  6. Derrar, S. L., Dallak, F. H., Alfaifi, A., Alessa, R. M., Abbas, K. A., Zurayyir, A. J.,. & Gosadi, I. M. (2022). Knowledge, attitude, and practice of pregnant women in Jazan, Saudi Arabia concerning pelvic floor muscle exercises. Cureus, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28819
  7. Dinç, A. (2018). Prevalence of urinary incontinence during pregnancy and associated risk factors. LUTS: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, 10(3), 303-307. https://doi.org/10.1111/luts.12182
  8. Dönmez, S., & Kavlak, O. (2014). Gebelikte pelvik taban kas egzersizi. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 3(1), 45-49.
  9. Dumoulin, C., Cacciari, L. P., & Hay‐Smith, E. J. C. (2018). Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (10). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4
  10. Eman, N., Iftikhar, S., Kousar, R., Islam, F., & Raza, A. (2023). Knowledge, attitude and practice towards pelvic floor keagle exercises in antenatal pregnant women of 3rd trimester. Pak-Euro Journal of Medical and Life Sciences, 6(3), 386a-386f. https://doi.org/10.31580/pjmls.v6i3.2862
  11. Ezeamii, J. C., Ben-Uche, F. S., Chikeme, P. C., Abonyi, E. O., & Ihudiebube-Splendor, C. (2024). Knowledge and practice of pelvic floor exercise among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic. South Asian Journal of Health Sciences, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.25259/SAJHS_9_2024
  12. Gartland, D., MacArthur, C., Woolhouse, H., McDonald, E., & Brown, S. J. (2016). Frequency, severity and risk factors for urinary and faecal incontinence at 4 years postpartum: a prospective cohort. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 123(7), 1203-1211. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.13522
  13. Gul, S., Hussain, H. S., Fatima, A. A., Ali, M. A., & Anjum, S. (2023). knowledge and practices of pelvic floor muscle exercises in pregnancy. Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences, 17(01), 174-174. https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs2023171174
  14. Hage‐Fransen, M. A., Wiezer, M., Otto, A., Wieffer‐Platvoet, M. S., Slotman, M. H., Nijhuis‐van der Sanden, M. W., & Pool‐Goudzwaard, A. L. (2021). Pregnancy‐and obstetric‐related risk factors for urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, or pelvic organ prolapse later in life: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 100(3), 373-382. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14027
  15. Hill, A. M., McPhail, S.M., Wilson, J.M., Berlach, R.G. (2017). Pregnant women’s awareness, knowledge and beliefs about pelvic floor muscles: a cross-sectional survey. International Urogynecology Journal, 28, 1557–1565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-017-3309-4
  16. Janakiraman, B., Gebreyesus, T., Yihunie, M., & Genet, M. G. (2021). Knowledge, attitude, and practice of antenatal exercises among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. PloS One, 16(2), e0247533. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247533
  17. Johannessen, H. H., Frøshaug, B. E., Lysåker, P. J., Salvesen, K. Å., Lukasse, M., Mørkved, S., & Stafne, S. N. (2021). Regular antenatal exercise including pelvic floor muscle training reduces urinary incontinence 3 months postpartum—Follow up of a randomized controlled trial. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 100(2), 294-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14010
  18. Kaya, H. D., Gunaydin, S., & Dogan, E. (2023). Prevalence of urinary incontinence in pregnant women in Turkey: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 284, 162-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.03.019
  19. Kazma, J. M., Van den Anker, J., Allegaert, K., Dallmann, A., & Ahmadzia, H. K. (2020). Anatomical and physiological alterations of pregnancy. Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics, 47(4), 271-285. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10928-020-09677-1
  20. Lemos, A., Impieri de Souza, A., Gomes Ferreira, A. L. C., Figueiroa, J. N., & Cabral-Filho, J. E. (2008). Do perineal exercises during pregnancy prevent the development of urinary incontinence? A systematic review. International Journal of Urology, 15(10), 875-80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2042.2008.02145.x
  21. Luo, D., Chen, L., Yu, X., Ma, L., Chen, W., Zhou, N., & Cai, W. (2017). Differences in urinary incontinence symptoms and pelvic floor structure changes during pregnancy between nulliparous and multiparous women. PeerJ, 5, e3615. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3615
  22. Mason, L., Roe, B., Wong, H., Davies, J., & Bamber, J. (2010). The role of antenatal pelvic floor muscle exercises in prevention of postpartum stress incontinence: a randomised controlled trial. Journal of clinical nursing, 19(19‐20), 2777-2786. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03297.x
  23. Moossdorff-Steinhauser, H. F., Berghmans, B. C., Spaanderman, M. E., & Bols, E. M. (2021b). Prevalence, incidence and bothersomeness of urinary incontinence in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Urogynecology Journal, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-020-04636-3
  24. Moossdorff-Steinhauser, H. F., Berghmans, B., Spaanderman, M. E., & Bols, E. M. (2021a). Urinary incontinence during pregnancy: prevalence, experience of bother, beliefs, and help-seeking behavior. International Urogynecology Journal, 32(3), 695-701. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-020-04566-0
  25. Nigam, A., Ahmad, A., Gaur, D., Elahi, A. A., & Batra, S. (2016). Prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence in pregnant women during late third trimester. International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 5(7), 2187-2191. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20162090
  26. Okeahialam, N. A., Dworzynski, K., Jacklin, P., & McClurg, D. (2022). Prevention and non-surgical management of pelvic floor dysfunction: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ, 376. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n3049
  27. Pires, T. F., Pires, P. M., Costa, R., & Viana, R. (2020). Effects of pelvic floor muscle training in pregnant women. Porto Biomedical Journal, 5(5), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pbj.0000000000000077
  28. Ren, S., Gao, Y., Yang, Z., Li, J., Xuan, R., Liu, J.,. & Thirupathi, A. (2020). The effect of pelvic floor muscle training on pelvic floor dysfunction in pregnant and postpartum women. Physical Activity and Health, 4(1), 130-141. https://doi.org/10.5334/paah.64
  29. Saeed, J., & Abdullah, L. (2022). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pelvic floor muscle exercises among pregnant women visiting public hospitals. Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences, 1, 12-20. https://doi.org/10.58398/0002.000003
  30. Sangsawang, B., & Sangsawang, N. (2016). Is a 6-week supervised pelvic floor muscle exercise program effective in preventing stress urinary incontinence in late pregnancy in primigravid women?: a randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 197, 103-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2015.11.039
  31. Schreiner, L., Crivelatti, I., de Oliveira, J. M., Nygaard, C. C., & Dos Santos, T. G. (2018). Systematic review of pelvic floor interventions during pregnancy. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 143(1), 10-18. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.12513
  32. Stafne, S. N., Dalbye, R., Kristiansen, O. M., Hjelle, Y. E., Salvesen, K. Å., Mørkved, S., & Johannessen, H. H. (2022). Antenatal pelvic floor muscle training and urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled 7-year follow-up study. International Urogynecology Journal, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-021-05028-x
  33. Süt, H. K. (2015). Gebelik ve doğumun pelvik taban yetersizlikleri üzerine etkisi: önlenmesi ve korunmada hemşirenin rolü. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 4(2), 292-304.
  34. Süt, H. K., & Küçükkaya, B. (2021). Gebe kadınların pelvik taban kas egzersizleri hakkında bilgi ve inançları. Samsun Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 6(3), 525-539. https://doi.org/10.47115/jshs.962772
  35. Tennfjord, M. K., Kassie, B. A., Gashaw, Z. M., Asaye, M. M., Muche, H. A., Fenta, T. T.,. & Mæland, K. S. (2023). Pelvic floor disorders and pelvic floor muscle exercise: a survey on knowledge, attitude, and practice among pregnant women in northwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4201. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054201
  36. Terry, R., Jarvie, R., Hay-Smith, J., Salmon, V., Pearson, M., Boddy, K.,. & Dean, S. (2020). “Are you doing your pelvic floor?” An ethnographic exploration of the interaction between women and midwives about pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) during pregnancy. Midwifery, 83, 102647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2020.102647
  37. Vandenbroucke, J. P., Von Elm, E., Altman, D. G., Gotzsche, P. C., Mulrow, C. D., Pocock, S. J.,. & Egger, M. (2022). Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE): Explanation and elaboration. Current Pediatrics, 21(3), 173-208. https://doi.org/10.15690/vsp.v21i3.2426
  38. Vasyliuk, S., Cheredarchuk, A., Rymarchuk, M., Bondarev, R., Proshchenko, O., & Mykytyuk, A. (2024). Fecal incontinence risk factors and pregnancy. Česká gynekologie, 89(2). https://doi.org/10.48095/cccg2024102
  39. Venegas, M., Carrasco, B., & Casas‐Cordero, R. (2018). Factors influencing long‐term adherence to pelvic floor exercises in women with urinary incontinence. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 37(3), 1120-1127. https://doi.org/10.1002/nau.23432
  40. Wu, X., Yi, X., Zheng, X., Chen, Z., Liu, J., & Dai, X. (2023). Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of pelvic floor dysfunction and pelvic floor ultrasound among women of childbearing age in Sichuan, China. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1160733. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1160733
  41. Yang, X., Sayer, L., Bassett, S., & Woodward, S. (2023). The prevalence, associated factors, and impact of urinary incontinence in pregnant and postpartum women in Nanjing, China: A cross-sectional study. Asian Journal of Urology, 10(3), 337-343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajur.2022.03.016
  42. Davenport, M. H., Nagpal, T. S., Mottola, M. F., Skow, R. J., Riske, L., Poitras, V. J.,. & Ruchat, S. M. (2018). Prenatal exercise (including but not limited to pelvic floor muscle training) and urinary incontinence during and following pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(21), 1397-1404. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099780
  43. Derrar, S. L., Dallak, F. H., Alfaifi, A., Alessa, R. M., Abbas, K. A., Zurayyir, A. J.,. & Gosadi, I. M. (2022). Knowledge, attitude, and practice of pregnant women in Jazan, Saudi Arabia concerning pelvic floor muscle exercises. Cureus, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28819
  44. Ren, S., Gao, Y., Yang, Z., Li, J., Xuan, R., Liu, J.,. & Thirupathi, A. (2020). The effect of pelvic floor muscle training on pelvic floor dysfunction in pregnant and postpartum women. Physical Activity and Health, 4(1), 130-141. https://doi.org/10.5334/paah.64
  45. Tennfjord, M. K., Kassie, B. A., Gashaw, Z. M., Asaye, M. M., Muche, H. A., Fenta, T. T.,. & Mæland, K. S. (2023). Pelvic floor disorders and pelvic floor muscle exercise: a survey on knowledge, attitude, and practice among pregnant women in northwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4201. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054201
  46. Terry, R., Jarvie, R., Hay-Smith, J., Salmon, V., Pearson, M., Boddy, K.,. & Dean, S. (2020). “Are you doing your pelvic floor?” An ethnographic exploration of the interaction between women and midwives about pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) during pregnancy. Midwifery, 83, 102647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2020.102647
  47. Vandenbroucke, J. P., Von Elm, E., Altman, D. G., Gotzsche, P. C., Mulrow, C. D., Pocock, S. J.,. & Egger, M. (2022). Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE): Explanation and elaboration. Current Pediatrics, 21(3), 173-208. https://doi.org/10.15690/vsp.v21i3.2426