Reviewer’ s report
Title: Sexuality and mood changes in women with persistent pelvic girdle pain after childbirth: a
case-control study
Version: 0Date: 13 Apr 2020
Reviewer's report:
# General aspects
Initially, I congratulate the authors for their effort.The English is good. The sentences construction is adequate. The text has a logical sequence.
# Introduction
The literature gap is not clear. I believe that it can be approached more deeply, making explicitwhat gap the manuscript is intended to fill.
# Methods
The description of design in the abstract does not seem adequate. It doesn't make much sense todescribe it as "prospective case-control".Studies dealing with general conditions such as pelvic pain are at risk of working with a veryheterogeneous population with a very varied phenotype. The phenotypic characterization of thestudy population seems to me to be poor. At least two other variables should be explored due tothe potential interference in the history of the condition: experience of pain during labor, as well asanalgesia.The use of psychometric instruments is not easy. Regarding the measured variables (depressionand sexuality), there are several instruments, some even more used than those proposed by the
authors. I suggest that the authors justify the use of the proposed instruments and demonstrate their
superiority in relation to the others. MADRS-S is a score that measures the severity of symptomsin episodes of depression. What is the basis for using it as a screening tool in a population withoutpreviously documented mood disorder?The explanation of power analysis does not seem appropriately approached. The casuistic is tooshort. The power of this study is consequently short.Please provide in the flowchart detailing the process of eligibility, selection, rate of respondents ...Univariate statistical analysis is not adequate when there is a significant amount of potentialinterference or confusion variables.
# Results
Table 2, especially the depression questionnaire, groups very different groups in the "milddepression" category. The data needs to be broken down.Some correlations presented (for example, between birth and pain during sexual intercourse) arenot part of the main outcomes and the study has limited power to analyze it.
# Discussion
There are limitations in the interpretation of the data. Some need to be listed as serious limitations:
sample size, sample heterogeneity, potential interference variables ...
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
NoDoes the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
NoAre you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an
additional statistical review?If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furtherassessment in your comments to the editors.
I recommend additional statistical reviewQuality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Acceptable
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