| Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women: A Narrative Review of Global Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Gaps in Awareness and Preventive Practices |
| Paper ID : 1047-IPTCCU. |
| Authors |
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Maram Ibraim Ali *1, Mahitab Mohamed Yosri2, Salma Osama Abdelhamed1, Rawan Tarek Soliman1, Nouran Mahmoud Abdelaziz1, Dalia Mohamed Kamel3 1Intern Physiotherapist at Al-Kasr Al-Ainy Hospitals - Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University 2Department of Women's Health, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University 3Professor of Physical Therapy for Women's Health, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo university |
| Abstract |
| Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs)—including urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal incontinence—affect millions of women worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite their significant impact on quality of life, awareness and knowledge about PFDs and preventive strategies such as pelvic floor exercises (PFE) remain limited. This narrative review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the prevalence, risk factors, impact, and conservative management of PFDs, with a focus on knowledge and practice of PFE. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies published in English between 1990 and 2025. Inclusion criteria were studies involving adult women (≥18 years) that addressed PFD prevalence, risk factors, psychosocial or economic impact, awareness, or PFE practice. Excluded were studies focusing exclusively on males, surgical techniques, case reports, editorials, and conference abstracts without full texts. Findings highlight obesity, high parity, and vaginal delivery as key modifiable risk factors. Although pelvic floor physical therapy is effective, barriers such as limited access, poor adherence, and low health literacy hinder its use. The review underscores the need for culturally sensitive education, early screening, and community-based interventions to improve pelvic floor health, especially in underserved populations. |
| Keywords |
| Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Floor Exercises, Awareness and Knowledge, Risk Factors |
| Status: Accepted |