Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Consistency of three different questionnaires to evaluating sexual functions in healthy 
young women  
 
Version: 1 Date: 07 Feb 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Lúcia Alves Silva  Lara 
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
Title: Consistency of three different questionnaires to evaluating sexual functions in young 
healthy women bef ore and after a pelvic floor muscle training program  
 
This is an interesting manuscript and I congratulate authors for the effort to perform this hard 
work. However, there are several problems with this manuscript that be solved before submit it 
for possible publication. First of all, objective is lacking, me thodology is poorly described. I 
recommend authors following CONSORT stands for Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials 
to this manuscript.  
 
 
Abstract  
 
Objective is lacking  
 
Most information in conclusion should be shown in methods  
 
Conclusion: the lack of objective has led to the lack of conclusion  
 
 
Introduction  
 
Too long! It should be reduced by removing paragraph 2 (from page 4, line 50 to page 5, line 6). 
After first paragraph authors should show the prevalence of dyspareunia and vaginism and the 
impact of  these conditions on female sexual function. Authors elucubrated a lot on sexual 
dysfunction in general, e.g. paragraph on page 5, line 40 to 52, instead of describing briefly, 
etiology, and possible influence of physiotherapy on dyspareunia and vaginismus . Thus the main 
subject was slightly embedded in the text.  
 
The objective of this study is lacking, thus it is impossible to know if methods, results, and 
discussion are adequate.  
 
 
Methods  
 
Page 5, line 55 to page 6, line 4 should be replaced to the results  section  
Inclusion and exclusion criteria are lacking  
 
Who performed dyspareunia and vaginismus diagnosis? What were the criteria for the diagnosis 
of these conditions? What was the objective of this research? How authors checked suitable 
performance of exe rcise at home?  
 
Are the me thods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional s tatistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any  way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content  of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the  above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
None  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal