Conservative Treatment Options to Prevent and Manage Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women

Abstract

Background: Pelvic floor dysfunction is a widespread, multifactorial disease that progresses slowly with age and occurs in 77% of postmenopausal women.Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of conservative treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction in women and the possibility of preventing pelvic organ prolapse.Materials and methods: We analyzed literature data (PubMed, eLibrary, Scopus) on treatment and prevention of pelvic floor dysfunction in women using various conservative treatment options.Results: The conservative approach is the only preventive measure and a first-line treatment of pelvic organ prolapse, especially at the disease onset. It involves lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and pessary insertion. Physical therapy includes pelvic floor muscle training with or without biofeedback, vaginal cones, electrical stimulation, etc.Conclusions: Despite the large number of available conservative treatment options, their effectiveness should be further studied, and preventive measures aimed at strengthening pelvic floor muscles should be actively promoted and included in the routine medical use and daily life of women to prevent pelvic organ prolapse.

Keywords

• pelvic floor
• pelvic floor dysfunction
• prevention of pelvic organ prolapse
• pelvic floor muscle training
• conservative treatment of prolapses
• prevention of urinary incontinence