Comparative effect of 2 packages of pelvic floor muscle training on the clinical course of stage I-III pelvic organ prolapse

Objective: To compare the effect of 2 packages of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on the clinical course of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) among women attending a gynecology outpatient department in Chandigarh, India. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted between August 8, 2010, and October 31, 2011. Overall, 140 women with stage I-III POP were allocated to a 24-week behavioral therapy intervention. Group A (n=70) received 1-to-1 PFMT and a self-instruction manual (SIM), whereas Group B (n=70) received SIM alone. Symptoms were assessed using the POP symptom scale (POP-ss), visual analog scale (VAS), and pelvic floor impact questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7) scores. Results: Marked improvements in mean POP-ss, VAS, PFIQ-7 scores were observed in both groups from baseline to week 24. However, significant between-group changes in mean POP-ss scores were observed from baseline to 6 weeks (P<0.001), 18 weeks (P=0.001), and 24 weeks (P=0.002). Significant between-group changes in mean VAS scores were observed at 18 and 24 weeks (P=0.009 and P=0.005). Significant between-group changes in mean PFIQ-7 scores were observed at 6 (P=0.001), 18 (P<0.001), and 24 weeks (P<0.001). Conclusion: Provision of both 1-to-1 PFMT and SIM led to greater improvements in POP symptoms than provision of SIM alone. ctri.nic.in: CIRI/2010/091/001190. (C) 2012 Intemational Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.