Novel treatment and preventive strategies of pelvic floor disorders – Experimental studies KU Leuven
Vaginal birth is the most important risk factor for later pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD)(1). During vaginal delivery, the passage of the fetal head results in excessive muscle stretch, nerve injury(2) and causes also ischemia and reperfusion injury(3) mainly in the levator ani muscle, urethra and vagina. As the injury evolves, a myogenic damage is present which are characterized by atrophy, fibrosis(4) and increase of slow twitch muscle fiber ...