Reviewer’ s report
Title: Sexuality and mood changes in women with persistent pelvic girdle pain after childbirth: a
case-control study
Version: 0Date: 20 Apr 2020
Reviewer: Colleen Fitzgerald
Reviewer's report:
General Comments: This is an interesting prospective matched case-control study investigating
sexuality and depressive symptoms in postpartum women who have pelvic girdle pain (PGP)compared to healthy controls. The study was well powered with solid inclusion/exclusion criteriaand showed essentially no difference between the groups except for pain with intercourse andavoidance of intercourse due to pain in the PGP group. The potential physical musculoskeletaletiology behind this deserves more attention in the discussion in addition to the focus onpsychological factors ie chronic pain and mood creating this symptom. Other studies have shownthe association with PGP and pelvic floor myofascial pain and dysfunction and perhaps should bereferenced (see below) and discussed further. It's plausible that pelvic floor myofascial pain is acompensatory response to persistent PGP and this creates pain with intercourse. A limitation ofthis study was lack of a pelvic exam including pelvic floor. If the discussion could be adjusted toinclude this thought process, it would be enhance the discussion and perhaps direct futureresearch.
Tenfelde S, Tell D, Brincat C, Fitzgerald CM Musculoskeletal Pelvic Pain and Sexual Function in
the First Year After Childbirth.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN.
2019 01;48(1):59-68 PMID 30503526.
Fitzgerald CM, Mallinson T The association between pelvic girdle pain and pelvic floor musclefunction in pregnancy. International urogynecology journal. 2012 Jul;23(7):893-98 PMID22290191Dufour S, Vandyken B, Forget MJ, Vandyken C Association between lumbopelvic pain and pelvicfloor dysfunction in women: A cross sectional study. Musculoskeletal science & practice. 201804;34:47-53 PMID 29268147Stuge B, Sætre K, Brækken IH. The association between pelvic floor muscle function and pelvicgirdle pain–a matched case control 3D ultrasound study. Manual therapy. 2012 Apr;17(2):150-6PMID 22245422
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
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Yes
Does the work include the necessary controls?
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YesAre the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
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Yes
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