Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.5
2.4
Journals
Healthcare
Special Issues
Pelvic Floor Health and Care
share announcement

Pelvic Floor Health and Care

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Women's Health Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 April 2026 | Viewed by 3834

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Matteo Frigerio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Gynecology Department, San Gerardo Hospital, Milano Bicocca University, ASST Monza—Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
Interests: urogynecology; pelvic floor; prolapse; incontinence; pelvic organ prolapse; pelvic floor surgery; stress incontinence; recurrent urinary tract infection; pelvic pain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yoav Baruch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
Interests: urogynecology; pelvic organ prolapse; pelvic floor surgery; obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI); overactive bladder; urinary incontinence; pelvic pain

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a common multifactorial heterogeneous condition mainly due to pelvic floor injury. Otherwise, PFD may be linked to genetic, structural, and/or hormonal variables. PFD symptoms include vaginal, bowel, and lower urinary tract symptoms, as well as sexual impairments. Such symptoms include, among others, urinary and anal incontinence, an overactive bladder, pelvic organ prolapse, and sexual discomfort.

PFD hinders women’s daily activities, inhibits their sexual function, negatively impacts their social and physical functions, and lowers their overall quality of life. PFD symptoms are widespread, affecting millions of women globally. In the US, around 25% of women have at least one pelvic floor disorder. However, because many women do not seek medical assistance and some are even reluctant to discuss PFD symptoms with their caregivers, it is still challenging to ascertain the actual prevalence of PFD.

This Special Issue of Healthcare is dedicated to offering an overview of female pelvic floor health and care. Groups from all specialties are encouraged to submit original research articles, project reports, short reports, reviews, and opinion papers.

Dr. Matteo Frigerio
Dr. Yoav Baruch
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • anal incontinence
  • pelvic floor dysfunction
  • urogynecology
  • pelvic organ prolapse
  • pelvic floor surgery
  • obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI)
  • overactive bladder
  • urinary incontinence
  • pelvic pain

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 572 KiB  
Article
Prospective Comparative Study of EMSella Therapy and Surgical Anterior Colporrhaphy for Urinary Incontinence: Outcomes and Efficacy
by Geanina Sacarin, Ahmed Abu-Awwad, Nitu Razvan, Marius Craina, Mihaela Prodan, Madalina-Otilia Timircan, Razvan Betea, Anca Dinu and Simona-Alina Abu-Awwad
Healthcare 2025, 13(8), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13080864 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 419
Abstract
Background: This prospective comparative study investigates urinary incontinence (UI), often associated with grade 2 cystocele, a condition that poses significant physical, emotional, and social challenges for affected women. While anterior colporrhaphy remains the gold standard for anatomical correction, non-invasive alternatives such as EMSella [...] Read more.
Background: This prospective comparative study investigates urinary incontinence (UI), often associated with grade 2 cystocele, a condition that poses significant physical, emotional, and social challenges for affected women. While anterior colporrhaphy remains the gold standard for anatomical correction, non-invasive alternatives such as EMSella therapy have gained increasing attention. The study compares the outcomes of these two distinct approaches in managing UI and the associated pelvic organ prolapse. Materials and Methods: This study involved 133 menopausal women with grade 2 cystocele and UI, including 78 treated with anterior colporrhaphy and 55 with EMSella therapy, across two Romanian healthcare centers. Outcomes were assessed through prolapse reduction (POP-Q), bladder function normalization, recurrence rates, quality of life (PFDI-20, PFIQ-7), patient satisfaction, complication rates, recovery times, and social or professional disruptions. Results: Anterior colporrhaphy was more effective in anatomical correction (88% vs. 64% achieving stage 0 prolapse) and bladder function normalization (72% vs. 55%, p = 0.04), with lower one-year recurrence rates (14% vs. 31%, p = 0.03). EMSella therapy allowed faster recovery, with 91% resuming daily activities within a week. Both groups showed improvement in quality of life, but reductions in PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 scores were more significant after surgery. EMSella had fewer infections and no dyspareunia, reflecting a better safety profile. Conclusions: EMSella therapy and anterior colporrhaphy significantly benefit managing UI associated with grade 2 cystocele. While anterior colporrhaphy provides definitive anatomical correction and superior long-term outcomes, EMSella therapy represents a safer, less invasive alternative with rapid recovery, making it ideal for patients with mild conditions or surgical contraindications. Treatment should be tailored to individual patient needs and preferences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pelvic Floor Health and Care)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 449 KiB  
Article
Antenatal Anovaginal Distance, a Potential Indicator of Perineal Damage during Pregnancy
by Federico Villani, Erich Cosmi, Zoe Lunardon, Martina Granci, Cristina Panizza, Barbara Mazzucato, Antonella Cavalieri, Mirela Marioara Toma, Roxana Furau and Cristian Furau
Healthcare 2024, 12(20), 2044; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12202044 - 15 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1839
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Perineal injuries, including episiotomies and spontaneous tears, are common complications during childbirth, often leading to significant discomfort and prolonged recovery for women. This retrospective observational cohort study aimed to explore the relationship between antenatal anovaginal distance (AVD) and the incidence of perineal [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Perineal injuries, including episiotomies and spontaneous tears, are common complications during childbirth, often leading to significant discomfort and prolonged recovery for women. This retrospective observational cohort study aimed to explore the relationship between antenatal anovaginal distance (AVD) and the incidence of perineal injuries in a cohort of pregnant women evaluated for pelvic floor health at 28 to 32 weeks of gestation. Methods: Conducted at the University Hospital of Padua over 18 months, the study included 416 women who underwent vaginal delivery at term. Based on AVD, the study participants were divided into two groups: AVD-N group, which included 252 patients with AVD ≥ 2 cm, and the AVD-R group, which included 164 with AVD < 2 cm. The results of the pelvic floor assessment and those related to childbirth were then examined in relation to AVD (reduced vs. normal). Results: The study found that women with reduced AVD were more likely to experience perineal injuries. Specifically, the incidence of episiotomy and severe perineal tears (3rd and 4th degree) was significantly higher in the reduced AVD group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a lower AVD was associated with increased perineal muscle hypertonicity and a higher likelihood of operative delivery with episiotomy. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that reduced AVD was an independent risk factor for perineal injuries, regardless of other maternal or neonatal characteristics. Conclusions: These results suggest that AVD measurement during pregnancy may help identify women at higher risk of perineal trauma, enabling more personalized obstetric care to mitigate these outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pelvic Floor Health and Care)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3794 KiB  
Article
Multi-Regional Pelvic Floor Muscle Function Diagnosis System Based on Inflatable Stretchable Electrode Array
by Hailu Chen, Siming Wu, Yinfeng Wang, Yinjuan Chang, Mingjie Li, Zhenwei Xie and Shengming Wang
Healthcare 2024, 12(19), 1910; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12191910 - 24 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1092
Abstract
Background: Effective prevention and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) necessitates the identification of lesions within the complex pelvic floor muscle (PFM) groups associated with various symptoms. Here, we developed a multi-region pelvic floor muscle functional diagnosis system (MPDS) based on an inflatable [...] Read more.
Background: Effective prevention and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) necessitates the identification of lesions within the complex pelvic floor muscle (PFM) groups associated with various symptoms. Here, we developed a multi-region pelvic floor muscle functional diagnosis system (MPDS) based on an inflatable stretchable electrode array, which aids in accurately locating areas related to PFD. Methods: Clinical diagnostic experiments were conducted on 56 patients with postpartum stress urinary incontinence (PSUI) and 73 postpartum asymptomatic controls. MPDS collects pelvic floor electromyography from all participants. By assessing EMG parameters such as activation time differences (ATD) and using Jensen–Shannon (JS) divergence to verify, with the aim of locating target muscle groups with functional abnormalities. Results: Clinical test results showed that by observing the AT sequence of the PSUI group and the control group, muscle groups with functional abnormalities in the Pubococcygeus muscle (PC) and Puborectalis muscle (PR) regions could be preliminarily diagnosed. In the assessment of regional muscle contribution values based on JS divergence, it was verified that the contribution values of rapid contraction in the PC and PR regions of the PSUI group were relatively lower compared to those of the control group, which correlated with urinary control dysfunction. Conclusions: These experiments demonstrate that the MPDS helps in accurately locating target muscle groups with functional abnormalities, showcasing its potential in precise assessment of complex muscle groups such as PFM, which may improve diagnostic precision and reliability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pelvic Floor Health and Care)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop