Research Article

Associations of Maternal Complaints to Levator Ani Muscle Trauma within 9 Months after Vaginal Birth: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Table 1

Questionnaire for assessing the urogynecological conditions of the study population before and during pregnancy and for the time after birth.

Questions regarding the time before and during pregnancyPossible answers
(1) I lost urine involuntary/against my willNever ☐ Sometimes ☐ Daily ☐
(2) I lost stool involuntary/against my willNever ☐ Sometimes ☐ Daily ☐
(3) I lost gas involuntary/against my willNever ☐ Sometimes ☐ Daily ☐
(4) I had burning/painful sensations during defecationNever ☐ Sometimes ☐ Always ☐
(5) I had burning/painful sensations during sexual intercourseNever ☐ Sometimes ☐ Always ☐
(6) I had a feeling of discomfort/foreign body in the vaginaNever ☐ Sometimes ☐ Daily ☐
(7) I had the feeling of something squeezing downwards into the vaginaNever ☐ Sometimes ☐ Daily ☐

Questions regarding the time after birthPossible answers
(8) I lost urine involuntary/against my willYes ☐ No ☐
(9) Compared to the time before childbirth, I lost urine involuntary/against my willLess often 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 more often
(10) I lost stool involuntary/against my willYes ☐ No ☐
(11) Compared to the time before childbirth, I lost stool involuntary/against my willLess often 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 more often
(12) I lost gas involuntary/against my willYes ☐ No ☐
(13) Compared to the time before childbirth, I lost bowel gas involuntary/against my willLess often 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 more often
(14) I have a feeling of discomfort/foreign body in the vaginaYes ☐ No ☐
(15) Compared to the time before childbirth, I have a feeling of discomfort/foreign body in the vaginaLess often 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 more often
(16) I have the feeling of something squeezing downwards into the vaginaYes ☐ No ☐
(17) Compared to the time before childbirth, I have the feeling of something squeezing downwards into the vaginaLess often 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 more often
(18) Compared to the time before childbirth, I have the feeling that my vaginal opening isTighter/closer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 wider
(19) Compared to the time before childbirth, I have the feeling that my pelvic floor isWeaker 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 stronger
(20) I do pelvic floor exerciseYes ☐ No ☐
(21) Compared to the time before delivery, I do pelvic floor exerciseLess frequently 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 more frequently
(22) I already had sexual intercourse after deliveryYes ☐ No ☐
(23) Compared to the time before delivery, my vagina isDrier 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 wetter
(24) Sexual intercourse is painfulYes ☐ No ☐
(25) Compared to the time before delivery, sexual intercourse is painfulLess frequently 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 more frequently
(26) Compared to the time before delivery, my orgasm capability isWorse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 better
(27) Compared to the time before delivery, my sensation in the vagina during sexual intercourse isReduced 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 increased
(28) Compared to the time before delivery, my satisfaction with sexual intercourse isReduced 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 increased

The answer “4” represented an unchanged situation after birth compared to the time before pregnancy.