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Pelvic Floor Training Combined With Perineal Massage Reduces Episiotomy to 5.7%

NCT07626333 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 520

Last updated 2026-06-04

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Episiotomy, a surgical incision of the perineum performed during the second stage of labor, was once widely advocated for the prevention of severe perineal lacerations. However, a growing body of evidence has demonstrated that routine episiotomy is not without consequence: it is associated with increased rates of posterior perineal trauma, dyspareunia, perineal pain, and postpartum hemorrhage. In alignment with this evidence, the World Health Organization now recommends against routine or liberal episiotomy use and endorses a restrictive approach, targeting episiotomy rates below 10%. Despite these recommendations, episiotomy rates remain high in many settings, particularly among nulliparous womenDespite the individual promise of these modalities, few studies have evaluated their combined effects on episiotomy and other perineal outcomes. The different mechanisms through which PFMT, perineal massage, and Swiss ball exercises operate suggest that their concurrent use may yield additive or synergistic benefits. Nevertheless, comparative data examining PFMT alone versus PFMT combined with Swiss ball or perineal massage remain scarce.

Conditions

  • Episiotomy
  • Episiotomy Extended by Laceration
  • Pelvic Floor Awareness

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

The education program covered pelvic floor anatomy and function, identification of correct muscle contraction, performance of Kegel exercises, and diaphragmatic breathing techniques

All participants in the intervention groups attended nurse-led pelvic floor education sessions at least once per week until delivery. The education program covered pelvic floor anatomy and function, identification of correct muscle contraction, performance of Kegel exercises, and diaphragmatic breathing techniques.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Batman University

    collaborator OTHER

  • Batman Training and Research Hospital

    lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

  • Erhan Okuyan · Batman Training and Research Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-02-05
Primary Completion
2026-04-05
Completion
2026-04-05

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07626333 on ClinicalTrials.gov