Pelvic Floor Ageing Study

If you are interested in learning more about your pelvic floor muscles, our lab is looking for female volunteers, over the age of 60 that have never given birth vaginally nor by c-section to study age-related changes in the pelvic floor muscles in order to develop interventions to target these age-related changes.

Study Procedures:

• Telephone screening to determine your eligibility
• Completion of three short on-line questionnaires
• Attend a pelvic floor muscle assessment at the McLean Function Measurement Lab, University of Ottawa

Eligibility Criteria:

• females age 60+
• No history of hysterectomy nor surgery for pelvic organ prolapse or incontinence
• Non-smokers or light smokers – you are eligible if you do not smoke, or if you have not smoked more than a half pack per day for the past 10 years
• Not currently pregnant nor have ever given birth
• No pain during sexual or non-sexual (i.e. tampon insertion) activities

You will learn about the state of your pelvic floor muscles and you will receive information about exercises that can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles to prevent incontinence, reduce pelvic organ prolapse, and, possibly, improve sexual function.  You will also be taught how to perform proper pelvic floor muscle contractions by a licensed physiotherapist.