The aim of this study was to assess long-term pelvic floor symptoms after an obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI).
This retrospective cohort study included 237 cases of OASI (0.86% of deliveries) identified at Poitiers University Hospital between 2000 and 2011. Symptoms were assessed using validated self-administered questionnaires, including Female Pelvic Floor Questionnaire, Pescatori anal incontinence score, EuroQoL five-dimension score, and pain visual analogue scale (VAS).
One hundred and sixty women (67%) filled out the questionnaires, on average 46 months after delivery (8-152). Among them, 93 (54%) reported at least one symptom occurring "frequently" (the most common being dyspareunia), and 45 (28%) a symptom occurring "daily" (the most common being flatus incontinence). Anal incontinence was reported by 32 (20%) women, flatus incontinence "frequently" or "daily" by 28 (18%), and stool incontinence "frequently" or "daily" by 9 (6%). Urinary incontinence was reported "frequently" or "daily" by 27 women (17%) at stress, 17 (11%) at urge, and 11 (7%) at mixed circumstances. Prolapse symptoms were reported "frequently" or "daily" by 6 women (4%). Pain during intercourse was reported "frequently" or "daily" by 17 women (11%). Twenty-four women (18%) reported chronic pelvic pain (VAS score≥4/10). Ninety-five percent of women reported a normal quality of life for mobility, self-care, and usual activities; however, alterations in pain/discomfort (32%) and anxiety/depression (33%) domains were frequently reported.
Pelvic floor symptoms 4 years after OASI were highly prevalent.