Muscle strength of the pelvic floor among young and climateric continent women

Abstract

The menopause represents a stage in life when modifications in the urogynecological tract occur as a decrease in the muscle strength of the pelvic floor and urethral turgidity. It is suggested that healthy muscles are thick and this enables them to support the vagina walls as well as provide a sphincteral action, favoring the closing and urethral continence. It is possible that the blood supply associated to strong muscles will promote the health of the epithelium in the area, stimulating the adequate vaginal lubrication and the delay of atrophic changes due to the age. The purpose of this study was to verify the muscle strength of the pelvic floor among healthy young and climateric women, in order to identify the existing alterations in this musculature. The study consisted of 49 women divided in two groups: Group 1 consisting of women (N=24) with an average age of 29.33 years old and Group 2, consisting of women (N=25) with an average age of 51.8 years old, submitted to the evaluation of the muscle strength of the pelvic floor by means of bidigital palpation and perineometry. Significant differences were not identified concerning the pelvic floor muscle strength by means of the perineometry in the studied groups. As for the bidigital palpation evaluation, a larger capacity of voluntary contraction and sustained maintenance of this contraction in 25 to 35-years old women was observed.