Outcomes of obstetric anal sphincter injuries
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A retrospective study with up to date follow up of women with obstetric anal sphincter injuries and their pelvic floor outcomes.
IRAS ID
161461
Contact name
ASH MONGA
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 17 days
Research summary
Around 90% of women have some level of tearing during vaginal childbirth. Some of these women tear to a greater extent, where the tear extends to the anal sphincter and sometimes into the back passage. Women who have had these tears are at greater risk of pelvic floor problems.
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that make a sling around the organs in the pelvis including the vagina and uterus (womb), the rectum (back passage) and bladder. Problems with the pelvic floor can cause urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence and sexual dysfunction (leaking wee, poo, and difficulties having sex). These are often disabling and embarrassing problems which cause women to put off seeking advice and support. This means that there are many people suffering who are not known about.
Some women who have tears in their first birth go on for different reasons to have an elective caesarean section (c-section by choice) at their second delivery. Others will have vaginal deliveries and some will have emergency caesarean sections. In this trial we are comparing women who have sustained a tear in their first delivery and gone on to have a second delivery by one of these methods. We are also looking at the symptoms of women who have had a tear and not yet gone on to have a second delivery. We are looking at whether the mode of the second delivery has effects on what symptoms the women experience.
Women will be invited to take part in the study by initial phone call and then followed with a postal pack. Their involvement will take less than 4 weeks and it will involve a questionnaire, no examinations will be necessary. The researchers are based at the Princess Anne Hospital Southampton.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0297
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion