Pregnant women after physical and sexual abuse in Germany.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of abuse among pregnant women in Germany attending our antenatal outpatient clinic and to observe whether a history of abuse had consequences for women's feelings about their pregnancy. METHODS: 455 women between the 35th and 42nd weeks of gestational age were included and were asked to fill out an anonymous questionnaire concerning their pregnancy, their actual psychological state, and their history of physical/sexual abuse. 600 questionnaires were distributed (return rate 75.8%), 70 women (10.4%) were excluded because of male companionship to ensure their safety in case that they were currently in an abusive relationship with the attending man. RESULTS: 88 women (19.3%) reported a history of sexual and/or physical abuse. Pregnant women after physical and/or sexual abuse significantly more frequently associate negative feelings with their pregnancy than nonabused women. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and the SCL-K-9 demonstrated significantly more negative feelings of depression and anxiety, strain, loneliness and less expectation of happiness for their future in abused women. CONCLUSION: Physical and sexual abuse are relevant problems among women in obstetric care that may complicate their pregnancies and make them feel more depressive.

Urogynecological training, testing and treatment among gynecologists in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: A survey was conducted to evaluate the urogynecology training of German gynecologists and the diagnostic tests and therapeutic options offered to women with incontinence or prolapse in hospital departments and private practices. STUDY DESIGN: Questionnaires were mailed to 3000 gynecologists in private practice and to 500 consultants in gynecology departments. The questionnaire included items on urogynecological training, diagnostic workup as well as conservative and surgical treatment options. RESULTS: The response rate was 16.8% with 589 of the 3500 questionnaires being returned. Less than one third of the respondents (28.6%) regard their training in urogynecology as good, 41% rate their training as moderate and 30.4% state that their urogynecology training during residency was inadequate. Male physicians significantly more often consider themselves well trained than women (p=.00006). The majority of gynecologists in private practice (74.7%) refer patients to a gynecological clinic for assessment of urogynecologic symptoms, 37.7% refer their patients to urologists in private practice, 10.4% to other gynecologists in private practice, and 10.4% to a urological clinic (percentages add up to more than 100% because multiple answers were allowed). Among the gynecologists who offer surgery, 81.2% perform retropubic TVT-operation and 80.1% colposuspension. Seventy-seven percentage of the gynecologists in private practice who do operations on an inpatient basis still perform anterior colporrhaphy to treat stress urinary incontinence compared to 62% of consultants in gynecological clinics (p<.05). CONCLUSION: One third of German gynecologists consider themselves inadequately trained in urogynecology. The results of our survey show that there is a need for improved general training during residency and for subspecialist training.

Physical and sexual abuse in patients with overactive bladder: is there an association?

The known sequelae of sexual abuse include acute and chronic injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of overactive bladder symptoms (OABs) with a history of physical or sexual abuse. Two hundred and forty-three women who attended the gynaecological out-patient clinic or the urogynaecological clinic were recruited for our study. Based on their clinical examination, they were assigned to three groups of patients with either OAB or with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) without concomitant urgency symptoms (SUI), or without history of incontinence (control group). Afterwards, they completed an anonymous questionnaire about bladder function and physical/sexual violence. Significantly more women (30.6%, 26/85) with OAB had previously been physically or sexually abused than women with SUI (17.8%, 18/101) and of the control group (17.5%, 10/57). Our study showed that significantly more women with OAB report physical and sexual abuse than subjects with stress incontinence or no urinary complaints. Women with stress incontinence had the same rate of self-reported physical/sexual abuse as continent controls.

Urinary and anal incontinence after vacuum delivery.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate urinary and fecal incontinence symptoms, and occult anal sphincter defects in women after vacuum and spontaneous vaginal delivery. STUDY DESIGN: In a case-control study, 50 primiparous women delivered by vacuum extraction were compared to 50 women delivered spontaneously. Urinary and anal incontinence symptoms, pelvic floor muscle strength and sphincter defects on endoanal ultrasound were evaluated 6-24 weeks postpartum. RESULTS: New anal incontinence symptoms after childbirth were found in 30% of the vacuum group compared to 34% of the controls, new urinary incontinence symptoms in 28 and 42%, respectively (not significant). After excluding Grade III perineal tear, sonographic sphincter defects were found in 11 (27.5%) after vacuum delivery compared to 4 (10%) after spontaneous delivery (P<0.05, chi(2)-test). CONCLUSION: Anal and urinary incontinence symptoms are frequent after vaginal delivery. Vacuum delivery causes more sonographic sphincter defects but appears to cause no more harm to pelvic floor function than spontaneous vaginal delivery.

Prevalence of sexual abuse among women seeking gynecologic care in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of sexual abuse among patients seen for gynecologic care in Germany. METHODS: A short anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 1157 women attending a gynecologic outpatient clinic at a large urban teaching hospital. Data collected using the questionnaire included patient characteristics, sexual abuse history, and screening practices. Women who reported that they had been abused were asked if they had ever discussed the issue with their gynecologist. RESULTS: A total of 1075 questionnaires were returned, for a response rate of 92.9%. Almost half (n = 479 [44.6%]) of the women surveyed reported that they had been the subject of unwanted sexual attention. One fifth (n = 216 [20.1%]) had been forced to engage in sexual activities: 6.8% in childhood, 10.3% during adolescence, 6.4% as an adult, and 3.5% across more than one stage. Thirteen women (6%) reported having discussed the abuse with their gynecologist. Sixty-six (30.5%) were too afraid to raise the issue, and 119 (55.1%) stated it was not relevant to their care. Only one woman (0.5%) reported that her gynecologist had asked about sexual abuse. CONCLUSION: Despite the high prevalence of sexual abuse among women seeking gynecologic care, routine screening does not appear to be part of standardized practice.

Long-term efficacy of pelvic floor re-education with EMG-controlled biofeedback.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of pelvic floor re-education (PFR) with EMG-controlled biofeedback in the treatment of female genuine stress or mixed incontinence. STUDY DESIGN: Between 1995 and 1998, 36 women completed a pelvic floor muscle training with a biofeedback device for 3-6 months. A mean of 26 months later, a follow-up examination was performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms decreased significantly immediately after the training but increased again at the long-term follow-up. Levator ani muscle strength improved after the treatment and remained significantly better for long-term follow-up. Immediately after the program, 25 (70%) women reported cure or improvement of stress incontinence. At the long-term follow-up, 17 (47%) reported the same result. CONCLUSIONS: About half of the patients after PFR with biofeedback are still improved or cured after 26 months. Women should be counseled about the long-term efficacy and about the necessity of maintaining training.