Is there a synergistic relationship between diaphragm and pelvic floor muscles in pregnant women?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine whether there is a synergistic relationship between the diaphragm and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study was carried out as a cross-sectional study in primigravid pregnants in the second and third trimesters. Superficial electromyography (EMG), 2D/3D ultrasonography (USG), pulmonary function test (PFT), PERFECT, maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and inspiratory pressure (MIP) measurements were used to evaluate pelvic floor and diaphragm muscle functions during pregnancy. Mann-Whitney U test was used to show the change in the second and third trimesters, and Spearman correlation was used to determine the relationship. RESULTS: No correlation was found between the EMG data of the PFM and diaphragm, or between the USG data of the PFM and diaphragm in all participants, in the second and third trimesters. In the third trimester of the study, diaphragmatic thickness and levator hiatal area (LHA) decreased and both diaphragm and PFM % MVC EMG parameters increased. In the third trimester, FVC, MIP, MEP decreased, and nonsignificant increase in FEV1, FEV1/FVC and peak ekspiratuar flow(PEF) were detected. A significant correlation was found between pelvic floor levator hiatal area USG and FEV1/FVC in both trimesters (r: 0,577p: 0,004). CONCLUSION: There may be a synergistic relationship between the diaphragm and PFM in pregnant women, the relationship may weaken as pregnancy progresses, and there may be no coactivation relationship between the two muscles. In order to prevent the occurrence of pelvic floor dysfunction during pregnancy and to increase the effect of rehabilitation programs, the relationship between the diaphragm and the PFM should be determined and more studies should be conducted.

Menstrual cycle abnormalities in women: characteristics, perceptions, and health-seeking behaviours.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate menstruation characteristics, perceptions, and health-seeking behaviours in women. METHODS: We conducted this cross-sectional study with 394 women between February 2021 and October 2021. According to the self-perception of women, menstruation characteristics were divided into two groups, including 'normal' and 'abnormal'. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Assessment Form of the Menstrual Cycle Characteristics, and Health-Seeking Behaviour Scale. RESULTS: Among all women, 49.7% perceived their menstruation characteristics as 'normal', and 50.3% perceived them as 'abnormal'. The menstruation characteristics negatively affected the daily life of 57.6% of women in the normal group and 68.7% of women in the abnormal group. Online health-seeking behaviour was the most common behaviour of seeking remedy; however, professional health-seeking behaviour was inadequate. Among women who perceived their menstruation characteristics as 'normal', excessive menstrual bleeding, extreme pain, and adverse effects on daily life increased health-seeking behaviour. Among women who perceived their menstruation characteristics as 'abnormal', irregular cycles, frequent bleeding, low levels of bleeding, the use of too many pads, extreme pain, and adverse effects on daily life increased health-seeking behaviour. CONCLUSION: The participants in this study exhibited insufficient health-seeking behaviour for abnormal menstruation characteristics. Women should be directed by health professionals to reliable online sources to seek help, and they should be encouraged to display professional health-seeking behaviour.

The knowledge and perception of menstruation characteristics among women is inadequate. The results of this study suggested that many gynecological symptoms that can affect women in their later stages of life may be unintentionally ignored.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Spiritual Well-Being, Prenatal Stress and Attachment Level of Turkish Women Conceiving Spontaneously or with Assisted Reproductive Techniques.

The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between spiritual well-being, prenatal stress and attachment level of Turkish women conceiving spontaneously or with assisted reproductive techniques (ART). The comparative descriptive study type was conducted between November 2021 and June 2022 with 202 pregnant women, including 87 women conceiving with ART and 115 women conceiving spontaneously, who applied for routine prenatal care checkup in a state hospital in the west of Turkey. Both groups have a high level of spiritual well-being. Pregnant women in the ART group experience higher prenatal distress (9.6% for spontaneous, 12.6% for ART, p = 0.487) and low level of attachment (69.72 ± 7.98 for spontaneous, 66.24 ± 8.88 for ART, p = 0.006) compared to the other group. Additionally, as insufficient partner involvement in the prenatal process increases in pregnant women in both groups, prenatal attachment decreases. It is extremely important that midwives and nurses evaluate the spiritual well-being of pregnant women and provide holistic care in line with their spiritual needs.

Is the function of the core muscles affected during pregnancy?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of our study is to examine the changes in core muscle functions during pregnancy. METHODS: Our study was carried out in 67 primigravida pregnant women. Superficial electromyography (EMG) and non-invasive 2D/3D ultrasonography (USG) were used to evaluate core muscle (diaphragm, transversus abdominus [TA], internal oblique [IO]-external oblique [EO] muscles, pelvic floor muscles, multifidus) function during pregnancy. Pelvic floor muscle strength was also measured by a digital palpation method (PERFECT system). USG was used to measure expected fetal weight and the diastasis recti (DR) distance. Mann-Whitney U test was used to show changes in trimesters in the core muscles, and Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship. RESULTS: In the third trimester, an nonsignificant increase in EMG parameters was observed in all of the core muscles. Although a statistically significant decrease was observed in muscle thickness values measured by EO and IO USG in the third trimester, DR was found to increase at all levels (p < 0.005). When we evaluated both trimesters and all pregnant women together, no relationship was found between all core muscles and pelvic floor muscles in the data evaluated by EMG and USG. We found a negative correlation in USG values between fetal weight and IO and the upper part of the rectus abdominus muscle, and a positive correlation between the EMG data of the EO and rectus abdominus muscles. CONCLUSIONS: In women, the coactivation relationship between the core muscles may disappear during pregnancy. As the trimesters progress during pregnancy, a decrease in thickness and an increase in muscle activity can be observed in the core muscles. Pregnant women can be given exercise training for core muscles for protection in both the prenatal and postnatal periods. But more research needs to be done.

The effect of online and face-to-face active learning methods on learning attitudes.

AIM: This study aims to compare the effects of online and face-to-face education models using active learning methods on students' learning attitudes. METHODS: This retrospective and quasi-experimental study included total 203 third-grade nursing students who took the Obstetrics and Gynecological Health Nursing course face-to-face and online in the fall semester of the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Active Learning Methods Questionnaire and the Scale Attitude Towards Learning (SATL) were used. RESULTS: The mean score of active learning methods of the students receiving online education (77.35 ± 18.63) was higher than the face-to-face education group (67.00 ± 20.67). Although there was no difference between the face-to-face and online education groups in terms of the effort to learn and caring for learning, online students had a lower attitude towards learning avoidance (t: 6.540, p: 0.000). There was a negative and low-level significant correlation between the evaluation of active learning methods and the total score of SATL in the online education group (r = -0.200; p = .043), no correlation in face-to-face group (r: 0.004; p: 0.963). CONCLUSION: Online education, which uses active learning methods, affected positively students' attitudes towards learning and decreased their avoidance of learning more than face-to-face education. This study has shown that active learning methods allow online students to question theoretical knowledge, convey it to patient care, contribute to clinical knowledge, and facilitate their learning and analytical thinking based on the more positively evaluation by online students.

Reliability and validity of the Toileting Behaviors-Women's Elimination Behaviors scale in a Turkish pregnant population.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Toileting behaviors are related to lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder dysfunction and are an important factor affecting bladder health. The aim of this study was to translate the Toileting Behaviors-Women's Elimination Behaviors (TB-WEB) Scale into Turkish and to validate its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct and criterion validity for use in Turkish pregnant women. METHOD: The research was conducted with 226 pregnant women who presented to the antenatal outpatient clinics of a university hospital in Türkiye for antenatal follow-up. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire prepared by the researchers and the TB-WEB Scale. Descriptive data were analyzed using numbers, percentage and mean values, whereas psychometric analysis of the scale was performed using semantic equivalence, content validity, explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's α, item-total correlation, and test-retest analysis. RESULTS: The scale consisted of 20 items and five subscales. The content validity index of the items was found to be 93%. Cronbach's α coefficient was found to be 0.77 for the whole scale; 0.60 for the place preference for voiding subscale; 0.73 for the premature voiding subscale; 0.84 for the delayed voiding subscale; 0.83 for the straining voiding subscale; and 0.88 for the position preference for voiding subscale. The scale mediates 62% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis found that item factor loadings varied between 0.31 and 0.99 and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) value was found 0.078. CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the TB-WEB Scale is a valid and reliable instrument in evaluating women's toileting behaviors during pregnancy.

Analysis of the Pathogenic Variants of Genes Using a Gene Panel in Turkish Epilepsy Patients.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a neurological disease that is mostly caused by genetic factors. The genetic diagnosis of patients in a pediatric epilepsy cohort was provided. METHODS: After phenotypic characterization, a 48-gene Next Generation Sequencing panel was performed in 110 Turkish children with epilepsy. The variants were called and annotated using the QIAGEN Ingenuity® Variant Analysis software. RESULTS: Of those carrying pathogenic mutations, two patients had mutations in the SCN1A gene and two patients in the TSC2 gene; other patients had mutations in the SCN1B, GRIN2B, KCNQ2, PCDH19, CHRNA2, and MECP2 genes. In total, nine out of 10 patients had pathogenic variants that were not previously reported. CONCLUSIONS: The genotype-phenotype correlations of these variants were discussed by comparing the clinical findings with the literature.

Evaluation of women's sexual quality of life, depression, and sexual functions in the pregnancy and postpartum periods: A multi-centered study.

AIM: This multi-centered, longitudinal, and prospective study aims to identify women's sexual functions, sexual quality of life, and depression and their relationships with each other in the pregnancy and postpartum periods. METHODS: The participating pregnant women (n = 113) were interviewed six times: once in each trimester, and once in the eighth week third month, and sixth month postpartum. This study was conducted in three regions of Turkey including Marmara, Mediterranean, and Central Anatolia regions. Data were collected through the "Socio-demographic Form," "Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)," Sexual Quality of Life-Female Questionnaire (SQLQ-F), and "Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D)." While the first interviews were administered face to face, successive ones were administered via phone. RESULTS: The sexual dysfunction rates of the participants were found to be high in the pregnancy and postpartum periods, and their sexual quality of life, which decreased as the pregnancy months progressed, was found to increase significantly with the progress in the postpartum period. The sexual dysfunction increased and sexual quality of life decreased significantly with the increase in depression symptoms in the pregnancy and postpartum periods. When the depressive symptoms decreased especially in the sixth month postpartum, sexual quality of life was also found to increase. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, in the pregnancy and postpartum periods, it is highly important to provide women with diagnosis through a holistic approach by creating available environments to assess their psychological health and sexual functions and refer them to the related physicians when necessary.

Mutations of BRCA1/2 Genes in the West of Turkey and Genotype-Phenotype Correlations.

BACKGROUND: Mutations of the BRCA1/2 genes are associated with increased breast and ovarian cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the founder mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in the Turkish population in the Aegean region as well as their genotype-phenotype correlations. METHODS: All the patients were provided with BRCA1/2 testing criteria according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. QIAseq Targeted DNA Panels were used for the BRCA1/2 coding regions. RESULTS: Of the 181 studied patients, 38 (21%) were found to carry pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutations, while 20 (11%) patients were found to carry variants of unknown significance. The most common pathogenic mutations were NM_000059.4:c.2765dup in the BRCA2 gene and NM_007300.4:c.981_982del and NM_007294.3:c. 5266dup in the BRCA1 gene. p.Lys3326* was the most frequently detected variant of unknown significance (6/ 181). Regarding genotype-phenotype correlations, the NM_007300.4:c.981_982del mutation in BRCA1 gene was found to be milder in terms of breast cancer. The most frequent cancers other than those related to BRCA genes, observed in the relatives of the patients who had pathogenic variants and variants of unknown significance, were endometrium cancer and leukemia, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: NM_007294.3:c.5266dup was found to be a candidate founder mutation in the Turkish population. NM_007300.4:c.981_982del mutation seems to have a milder course in terms of breast cancer. A significantly increased frequency of p.Lys3326* variant in breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients compared with that in the 1,000 Genomes Project suggesting that this variant has a slight effect on BRCA2 function.

The correlation between levels of prenatal attachment and styles coping with stress in pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a very important period in the development of attachment. OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between prenatal attachment levels of healthy pregnant women and their styles of coping with stress and those of high-risk pregnant women. METHOD: This descriptive study consisted of 76 women in their third-trimester of pregnancy hospitalised at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology service at a hospital and 210 women in their third-trimester of pregnancy who were experiencing a healthy pregnancy process and admitted to the Gynaecology Outpatient Clinic for pregnancy follow-up. The data were collected with the Personal Information Form, the Prenatal Attachment Inventory and the Stress Coping Styles Scale. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the prenatal attachment levels of healthy and high-risk pregnant women. There was a positive correlation between the prenatal attachment levels and the self-confident and optimistic approaches among the styles of coping with stress in the healthy and high-risk pregnant women . CONCLUSION: The attachment levels of the high-risk pregnant women were higher than were those of the healthy pregnant women. As the use of the self-confident and optimistic approach styles in coping with stress increases among healthy and high-risk pregnant women, so do their prenatal attachment levels.

Prenatal distress levels of pregnant women in Turkey and affecting factors: a multicentre study.

This study was conducted to determine prenatal distress levels of pregnant women from seven provinces of Turkey and factors affecting prenatal distress levels. The multicentre descriptive study included 2365 pregnant women who were in the twentieth gestational week and above. The data were collected using the pregnancy information form, prenatal distress questionnaire and spousal support scale. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, ANOVA and logistic regression were used to evaluate the data. The results of this study demonstrated that pregnant women's prenatal distress levels are affected by such factors as the region lived in, lack of spousal support and being a primary school graduate. Nurses should develop intervention strategies that involve the pregnant woman's spouse to reduce prenatal distress and the factors affecting prenatal distress.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Prenatal distress can have significant effects on pregnancy, maternal health and human development across the lifespan.What the results of this study add? Spousal support could also have an effect on the psychological health of mothers.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Nurses and midwives monitor the pregnant women, and therefore, they should evaluate the prenatal distress levels in the prenatal period, plan intervention strategies for pregnant women with high stress levels and include the pregnant women's spouses in these intervention strategies.

Coinheritance of novel mutations in NAGLU causing mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB and in DDHD2 causing spastic paraplegia54 in a Turkish family.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (MPSIIIB) is one of the lysosomal storage diseases, clinically related to developmental delay in the early phase and loss of skills in the late phases of the disease. The disease is caused by homozygous mutations in the NAGLU gene. Spastic paraplegia54 (SPG54) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by homozygous mutations in the DDHD2 gene. Clinical features are progressive spasticity and weakness in the lower limbs and corpus callosum agenesis. We report on two siblings in a consanguineous family, presenting both the clinical and molecular diagnoses of MPSIIIB and SPG54 with novel mutations by using whole exome sequencing (WES). This interesting finding shows that we should be aware of the importance of using WES for diagnosing rare diseases in consanguineous families.

NF-Ä¸ß upregulates ADAMTS5 expression by direct binding after TNF-α treatment in OUMS-27 chondrosarcoma cell line.

Inflammation caused-aggrecan degradation is a critical event in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). The aggrecanases like a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) are assumed to be key players in the aggrecan destruction. To develop the comprehensive therapy method for OA, it is essential to elucidate the activation mechanism of ADAMTS5 gene after stimulation of inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The cell lines of human chondrosarcoma (OUMS-27) and embryonic kidney (HEK293T) were incubated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) for certain time periods, and the expression level of ADAMTS5 was measured in both mRNA and protein levels. Tissue-specific ADAMTS5 activation was founded to be induced after TNF-α treatment. Then, the constructs for the promoter region of ADAMTS5 were prepared and luciferase assay was conducted to understand the involvement mechanism of nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-ĸß) in ADAMTS5 activation. It was demonstrated that NF-Ä¸ß induces the ADAMTS5 expression level by directly binding the promoter region of ADAMTS5. Although the TNF-α blocker is used for OA treatment, the development of a more comprehensive treatment strategy is an urgent need. Our experimental data contributes in terms of selecting NF-Ä¸ß as a target molecule. Up to date, NF-Ä¸ß has been proven to involve in the ADAMTS5 up-regulation after several pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulation. In conclusion, our findings make important contributions to the knowledge about the roles of NF-Ä¸ß in ADAMTS5 activation under inflammatory conditions. So, NF-Ä¸ß could be considered to be a potential target for OA treatment.

How do urinary incontinence types affect sexual function and quality of life for Turkish women?

OBJECTIVE: Urinary incontinence (UI) subtypes may have some effects on sexual function because of diverse pathophysiological mechanisms. The objective of our study is to compare UI subtypes' effects on women's sexual function and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: In this descriptive and comparative study, a total of 239 women with UI were included (89 with stress urinary incontinence [SUI], 65 with urge urinary incontinence [UUI], and 85 with mixed urinary incontinence [MUI]). Sexual function was assessed with the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12), and QoL was assessed with the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7). RESULTS: In our study, the mean total PISQ-12 score for the UI subtypes was 29.49 ± 6.38 for SUI, 31.43 ± 5.46 for UUI, and 23.12 ± 5.54 for MUI. Women with MUI had significantly more sexual dysfunctions than the other groups (P < .001). The mean total IIQ-7 score according to UI subtypes was 60.61 ± 31.49 for SUI, 64.40 ± 28.20 for UUI, and 70.51 ± 25.09 for MUI. As regards the scores of the IIQ-7, UI had a negative impact on QoL for women of all groups, especially for women with MUI and UUI, but was not significantly different between the groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The sexual function of women with MUI was affected more adversely than the other UI subtypes. There was no statistically significant difference between the UI subtypes according to IIQ-7 scores, but when we examined the scores, MUI and UUI were found to have more negative effects on QoL. Clinicians and continence nurses should make routine evaluations of sexual function and QoL for women according to UI subtypes.

A new clinical entity in T704M mutation in periodic paralysis.

Periodic paralyses (PPs) are a group of rare disorders characterized by episodic, sudden-onset, flaccid paralysis of skeletal muscles usually resulting in complete recovery after the attacks. PPs are caused by abnormal, mostly potassium-sensitive excitability of the muscle tissue. Hypokalemic and hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HypoKPP and HyperKPP) have been described according to their characteristic phenotypes and the serum potassium level during the attacks of weakness. The T704M mutation on the SCN4A gene is the most common mutation in HyperKPP. Different mutations of the SCN4A gene have also been reported in some cases of HypoKPP. In this study, a large Turkish family carrying the T704M mutation on the SCN4A gene with HypoKPP disease was examined. A similar history was noted in a total of 17 subjects in the pedigree. SCN4A gene of the patients was sequenced with Sanger sequencing. In this study, this mutation was associated with a HypoKKP diagnosis for the first time in the literature. The symptoms of hallucination and diplopia seen in patients had also never been indicated in the literature before. This report expands the phenotypic variability of the T704M mutation, further confirming the lack of genotype-phenotype correlation in SCN4A mutations.

Anxiety levels and methods of coping with stress of adolescents undergoing their first gynecological examination.

Objective: The present study was conducted to assess the anxiety levels and the methods of coping with the stress of adolescents who underwent their first gynecological examination.Methods: The sample of this descriptive study consisted of 223 married or single adolescent women who went to a state hospital in Sivas Province in Turkey for their first gynecological examination. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews with the Personal Information Form, the State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) and the Ways of Coping Inventory (WCI).Results: There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the SAI scores, and the self-confident approach (r = -0.305; p = 0.001) and optimistic approach (r = -0.170; p = 0.011) of the WCI subscales. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between SAI scores, and the desperate approach (r = 0.153; p = 0.022) and submissive approach (r = 0.143; p = 0.032).Conclusion: Adolescent women who underwent their first gynecological examination have "moderate" levels of anxiety and their coping with stress styles are ineffective. As anxiety levels increase, they use more ineffective methods.

An investigation of vitamin and mineral supplement recommendation among first-trimester pregnancies.

Background Healthy and balanced nutrition in pregnancy can affect the mother's and the fetus' health. Therefore, health professionals should provide information about this issue to pregnant women. The aim of the study was to examine the rate of vitamin and mineral supplement recommendation among first-trimester pregnant women. Methods The study sample consisted of 697 first-trimester pregnant women between 18 and 40 years of age. The pregnant women who registered to an obstetric outpatient clinic between January and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed, and data were collected from patient medical records using a questionnaire. Results Physician's laboratory test orders from the women included the following: ferritin was 18.4%, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) was 99.7%, folic acid was 10.2%, vitamin D was 6.3%, vitamin B12 was 17.2% and calcium was 20.4%. All of the women's hemoglobin levels had been examined. A total of 58.8% of the women were recommended to take folic acid, 32.7% iron, 25.7% iodine, 18.8% calcium, 17.2% vitamin A, 21.1% vitamin B12, 17.4% vitamin C, 31.6% vitamin D and 17.5% vitamin E supplements. Conclusion It was determined that ferritin, vitamins B12 and D, calcium, folic acid, iron and iodine levels were not examined routinely in this study. Folic acid and iron supplementation were the most commonly suggested nutrient supplements in the first trimester.

Sexual function and urinary incontinence complaints and other urinary tract symptoms of perimenopausal Turkish women.

Urinary incontinence (UI) and other lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) which are quite common among women, have a significant level of impact on women's sexual function. Improving sexual function improves the quality of life. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between UI complaints with comorbid LUTS and sexual functions in Turkish women. The study is cross-sectional and descriptive. A total of 436 women was included in the study. Data were collected through Personal Information Form, The Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Questionnaire (BFLUTS) and The Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12). The mean total of BFLUTS score was 31.99 ± 11.46, while the mean total of PISQ-12 score was 28.72 ± 6.92 in women. The most common symptoms were identified as storage and incontinence. There was a negative significant correlation between the total PISQ-12 scores and sub-dimension of BFLUTS scores (p < 0.01). Results of the study suggest that sexual function is negatively affected as the severity of symptoms increases.

Quality of life and sexual function in obese women with pelvic floor dysfunction.

This prospective study was conducted in the urogynecology and gynecology outpatient clinics of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine from December 2014 to March 2015. The objective was to identify the association between obesity and sexual function and quality of life in women with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). A total of 387 sexually active women diagnosed with urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse were included and categorized as obese (n = 200) or nonobese (n = 187). Mean body mass indexes were 25.7 ± 2.41 kg/m2 for nonobese women and 34.9 ± 3.92 kg/m2 for obese women. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12 total score was significantly lower in obese (27.66 ± 7.12) than in nonobese women (30.18 ± 6.54) (p < .05). Quality of life mean scores were higher in obese women for both the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire total score (67.24 ± 26.8 versus 49.12 ± 27.5) and Urogenital Distress Inventory total score (65.02 ± 21.4 versus 55.07 ± 24.7) (p < .001). Obese women with PFD had symptoms for longer durations, had more frequent urinary incontinence, and worse sexual function and quality of life than nonobese women. Health-care professionals caring for obese women should be aware of the coexistence of obesity and PFD. Future studies should evaluate whether obesity-associated PFD can be reduced through successful weight reduction interventions.