Childbirth-Related Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Risk Factors, Prevention, Evaluation, and Treatment

​This book offers an up-to-date overview of childbirth-related pelvic floor dysfunction covering prevention, diagnosis, and management. It encompasses all relevant conditions, with particular focus on genital prolapse, urinary incontinence, and fecal incontinence. Risk factors for pelvic floor damage related to childbirth are identified, and a 3D simulation of delivery is presented. The role of various diagnostic tools, including pelvic floor ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging and anal sphincter electromyography, is clearly described. The importance of physiotherapy in preventing future alterations is explained, and the indications for surgery, which is reserved for more severe situations, are discussed. The book highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach involving obstetricians, gynecologists, urologists, midwives, radiologists, physiotherapists, muscle laboratory engineers, and computer technicians.

Dr. Diego Riva is a Urogynecologic Consultant at Clinica S. Pio X and San Carlo Hospital in Paderno Dugnano, Milan, Italy. He was Director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Hospital of Cantù from 2001 to 2012 and served as President of the Italian UroGynecology Association (AIUG) from 2006 to 2009. He is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Italian Continence Foundation (FIC) and a past member of the Scientific Committee of the Italian Urodynamics Society (SIUD).

Dr. Gianfranco Minini has been Director of the Urogynecology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Spedali Civili, University, Brescia, Italy and is now Consultant of the Department of Gynecology at Città di Brescia Clinic Institute. He is a member of the Italian Foundation for Continence and a member of the Executive Committee of the Gruppo di Lavoro Uroginecologia Pavimento Pelvico (Working Group on Urogynecology and the Pelvic Floor). He has been a lead or co-author of more than 250 publications.