Review An update on damage to the pelv ic floor in childbirth

Author Lucia Dolan Key content: • Caesarean section may reduce the risk of postnatal pelvic floor dysfunction; long-ter m benefits are less clear. • Non-obstetric factors such as age, obesity and family history are independent factors that c onfer significant risk of pelvic floor dysfunction. • Further research, perhaps using pelvic floor imaging, may improve our understanding of the natur e of the injuries.