TY - JOUR
T1 - Implementation of a pelvic floor physical therapy program for transgender women undergoing gender-affirming vaginoplasty
AU - Jiang, Da David
AU - Gallagher, Sandra
AU - Burchill, Laura
AU - Berli, Jens
AU - Dugi, Daniel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
PY - 2019/5/1
Y1 - 2019/5/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE:To describe the incidence of pelvic floor dysfunction in transgender women undergoing gender-affirming vaginoplasty and outcomes in a program providing pelvic floor physical therapy (PT).METHODS:We conducted a retrospective, single-institution study on vaginoplasty patients between May 1, 2016, and February 28, 2018; all were referred for pelvic floor PT. We reviewed medical records for baseline demographics, medical comorbidities, prior surgeries, insurance data, attendance at pelvic floor PT, and dilation success at 3 and 12 months.RESULTS:Seventy-two of 77 patients (94%) attended pelvic floor PT at least once. Preoperative pelvic floor PT identified a high incidence of potential problems: 42% had pelvic floor dysfunction, 37% had bowel dysfunction. Of those patients found to have dysfunction preoperatively, the rate of resolution by the first postoperative visit of pelvic floor and bowel dysfunction were 69% and 73%, respectively. There were significantly lower rates of pelvic floor dysfunction postoperatively for those patients who attended pelvic floor PT both preoperatively and postoperatively compared with only postoperatively (28% vs 86%, P=.006). Patients reporting a history of abuse had a significantly higher rate of preoperative pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (91% vs 31%, P<.001). Successful dilation at 3 months in all patients was 89%.CONCLUSION:Pelvic floor physical therapists identify and help patients resolve pelvic floor-related problems before and after surgery. We find strong support for pelvic floor PT for patients undergoing gender-affirming vaginoplasty.
AB - OBJECTIVE:To describe the incidence of pelvic floor dysfunction in transgender women undergoing gender-affirming vaginoplasty and outcomes in a program providing pelvic floor physical therapy (PT).METHODS:We conducted a retrospective, single-institution study on vaginoplasty patients between May 1, 2016, and February 28, 2018; all were referred for pelvic floor PT. We reviewed medical records for baseline demographics, medical comorbidities, prior surgeries, insurance data, attendance at pelvic floor PT, and dilation success at 3 and 12 months.RESULTS:Seventy-two of 77 patients (94%) attended pelvic floor PT at least once. Preoperative pelvic floor PT identified a high incidence of potential problems: 42% had pelvic floor dysfunction, 37% had bowel dysfunction. Of those patients found to have dysfunction preoperatively, the rate of resolution by the first postoperative visit of pelvic floor and bowel dysfunction were 69% and 73%, respectively. There were significantly lower rates of pelvic floor dysfunction postoperatively for those patients who attended pelvic floor PT both preoperatively and postoperatively compared with only postoperatively (28% vs 86%, P=.006). Patients reporting a history of abuse had a significantly higher rate of preoperative pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (91% vs 31%, P<.001). Successful dilation at 3 months in all patients was 89%.CONCLUSION:Pelvic floor physical therapists identify and help patients resolve pelvic floor-related problems before and after surgery. We find strong support for pelvic floor PT for patients undergoing gender-affirming vaginoplasty.
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U2 - 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003236
DO - 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003236
M3 - Article
C2 - 30969210
AN - SCOPUS:85065347913
SN - 0029-7844
VL - 133
SP - 1003
EP - 1011
JO - Obstetrics and gynecology
JF - Obstetrics and gynecology
IS - 5
ER -