Restrictions and Distress in Daily, Social and Sexual Functioning, and Intimate Relationships in Women with Pelvic Floor Complaints

Purpose: To explore in young adult women with pelvic floor complaints if their daily, social and sexual functioning, and intimate relationships are challenged, and which restrictions and distress they experience. In addition, comparisons were made between women who did and did not receive pelvic physical therapy, and between pregnant, parous and nulliparous women. Methods: Forty-eight women were interviewed, and data was analyzed using NVivo and Leximancer in a mixed-method design. Results: Daily functioning was most often challenged, and feelings of disappointment were common. Sexual dysfunction was prevalent, and distress was more overwhelming in women receiving therapy. Relationship issues predominated in women not receiving therapy, and their distress was milder. Pregnant women reported relationship issues with concomitant distress, whereas parous women reported more sexual and social functioning problems, and severe and overwhelming distress. Nulliparous women reported experiencing sexual dysfunction, and milder distress. Subgroup analyses depicted a more in-depth context-related confirmation of these findings. Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction, relationship dynamics, the nature and severity of restrictions and distress, and coping strategies appear to vary between women who did and did not receive therapy. Specific combinations of restrictions and distress are present in pregnant, parous and nulliparous women, and might influence women’s decision to seek help.