Urogynecology Research

Pelvic Floor Research

University of Utah is one of the top 50 research institutions in the United States. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has consistently been in the top tier for NIH funding as well as a leading recruiting site for network studies. The Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery has a long history of conducting high-impact research that has helped establish evidence-based guidelines for our field and improve outcomes. 

Peggy Norton, MD and Ingrid Nygaard, MD, MS are both pioneers in pelvic floor research. They have left a legacy of research excellence that our division is committed to advancing.

Landmark Research from Urogynecology Division

  • NICHD-funded Motherhood and Pelvic Health Study (MAP; P01 HD080629, PI Nygaard): Conducted between 2015-2021, 9719 pregnant nulliparous women were screened, 1078 enrolled, and those that delivered vaginally were followed for 1 year postpartum to test hypotheses about the roles of habitus, intraabdominal pressure and physical activity on pelvic floor symptoms and support over the 1st postpartum year.
  • NICHD-funded Physical Activity and Pelvic Floor Disorders (PHACTS; R01 HD057895; PI: Nygaard): Conducted between 2008-2013, 1538 women ages 39-65 were enrolled into a cross-sectional study to assess the impact of physical activity on prevalence of pelvic floor disorders.
  • NICHD-funded Genetic Determinants of Pelvic Floor Disorders (R01 HD0041163; PI Norton): Over 1,000 patients were genotyped or phenotyped to identify genetic causes of prolapse and urinary incontinence.

Current Research

Faculty research includes the following conditions: 

  • Etiology and prevention of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence
  • Using prediction modeling to improve outcomes for urgency incontinence
  • Understanding the relationship between overactive bladder, dementia, and vascular disease
  • Postpartum pelvic floor disorders and optimizing recovery from obstetrical anal sphincter lacerations
  • Genetic contribution to pelvic floor disorders
Obstetrics & Gynecology Research Network

Publications

    2024 publications

    Swenson, C.W., et al., Older maternal age at first vaginal delivery is associated with increased genital hiatus size at 1 year postpartum. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2024. 230(6): p. e110-e112.

    Schmidt, P., et al., Postpartum Changes in Levator Plate Shape and Genital Hiatus Size After Vaginal Delivery. Int Urogynecol J, 2024.

    Robison, E.H., et al., Comparison of Readmission Rates for Same-Day Versus Next-Day Discharge After Benign Vaginal Hysterectomy. Urogynecology (Phila), 2024. 30(1): p. 26-34.

    Nicola-Ducey, L., et al., Pelvic Floor Symptoms 4 Years After Elective Labor Induction: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Urogynecology (Phila), 2024.

    Hendrickson, W.K., et al., Longitudinal Fluctuations in Treatment Response After OnabotulinumToxinA and Sacral Neuromodulation for Refractory Urgency Incontinence. J Urol, 2024. 211(1): p. 134-143.

    Hendrickson, W.K., et al., Overactive Bladder in Late Pregnancy to 1 Year After First Vaginal Delivery. Urogynecology (Phila), 2024. 30(4): p. 433-442.

    Burger, K.A., et al., Perioperative Outcomes for Same- Versus Next-Day Discharge After Benign Vaginal Hysterectomy. Urogynecology (Phila), 2024. 30(2): p. 89-97.

    2023 publications

    Shaw, J.M., et al., Postpartum sedentary behaviour and pelvic floor support: A prospective cohort study. J Sports Sci, 2023. 41(2): p. 141-150.

    Rosett, H.A., et al., Association Between Genital Hiatus Size 8 Weeks Postpartum and Pelvic Organ Prolapse 1 Year After the First Vaginal Delivery. Urogynecology (Phila), 2023.

    Lai, H.H., et al., Phenotyping of Urinary Urgency Patients Without Urgency Incontinence, and Their Comparison to Urgency Incontinence Patients: Findings From the LURN Study. J Urol, 2023. 209(1): p. 233-242.

    Duarte Thibault, M., et al., A comparison of MRI-based pelvic floor support measures between young and old women with prolapse. Int Urogynecol J, 2023. 34(9): p. 2081-2088.

    2022 publications

    Sheng, X., et al., Pelvic Floor Support and Symptoms 1 Year Postpartum in Relation to Excess Body Habitus Before, During and After First Vaginal Birth. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2022. 28(5): p. 273-279.

    Shaw, J.M., et al., Relative and Maximal Intra-abdominal Pressure and Postpartum Pelvic Floor Outcomes in Primiparas Delivered Vaginally. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2022. 28(2): p. 96-103.

    Nygaard, I. and P. Norton, Surgery for Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women - Improvement but Not a Cure. N Engl J Med, 2022. 386(13): p. 1280-1281.

    Alperin, M., et al., Foundational Science and Mechanistic Insights for a Shared Disease Model: An Expert Consensus. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2022. 28(6): p. 347-350.

    Alperin, M., et al., Foundational science and mechanistic insights for a shared disease model: an expert consensus: Developed by the AUGS Basic Science Subcommittee and IUGA Special Interest Group. Int Urogynecol J, 2022. 33(6): p. 1387-1392.

    2021 publications

    Wolpern, A.E., et al., Physical activity in the early postpartum period in primiparous women. J Sci Med Sport, 2021. 24(11): p. 1149-1154.

    Nygaard, I.E., et al., Early postpartum physical activity and pelvic floor support and symptoms 1 year postpartum. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2021. 224(2): p. 193.e1-193.e19.

    Nygaard, I.E., et al., Do Measures of Muscular Fitness Modify the Effect of Intra-abdominal Pressure on Pelvic Floor Support in Postpartum Women? Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2021. 27(2): p. e267-e276.

    Nygaard, I.E., et al., Habitus and Pelvic Floor Symptoms and Support 1 Year Postpartum. Obstet Gynecol, 2021. 137(5): p. 821-830.

    Nicola, L., et al., Effects of Oxytocin for Induction and Augmentation of Labor on Pelvic Floor Symptoms and Support in the Postpartum Period. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2021. 27(5): p. 289-296.

    Hitchcock, R., et al., Association Between Measures of Trunk Recovery 5 to 10 Weeks Postpartum and Pelvic Floor Support and Symptoms 1 Year Postpartum in Primiparas Delivered Vaginally. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2021. 27(2): p. e427-e435.

    Hill, A.J., et al., Trajectories of Pelvic Floor Symptoms and Support After Vaginal Delivery in Primiparous Women Between Third Trimester and 1 Year Postpartum. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2021. 27(8): p. 507-513.

    Hill, A.J., et al., Recommended standardized anatomic terminology of the posterior female pelvis and vulva based on a structured medical literature review. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2021. 225(2): p. 169.e1-169.e16.

    Hendrycks, R., et al., Temporal trends in trunk flexor endurance and intra-abdominal pressure in postpartum women. Physiother Theory Pract, 2021. 37(11): p. 1217-1226.

    Harvie, H.S., et al., Cost-effectiveness of behavioral and pelvic floor muscle therapy combined with midurethral sling surgery vs surgery alone among women with mixed urinary incontinence: results of the Effects of Surgical Treatment Enhanced With Exercise for Mixed Urinary Incontinence randomized trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2021. 225(6): p. 651.e1-651.e26.

    Egger, M.J., et al., Pelvic Floor Sensations After the First Vaginal Delivery: A Qualitative Study. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2021. 27(1): p. e234-e246.

    Adelman, M. and I.E. Nygaard, Time for a "Pause" on the Use of Vaginal Laser. Jama, 2021. 326(14): p. 1378-1380.

    2020 publications

    Wolpern, A.E., et al., Relationship of heart rate, perceived exertion, and intra-abdominal pressure in women. J Clin Exerc Physiol, 2020. 9(3): p. 97-103.

    Saltzman, H.M., et al., Differences in Pelvic Floor Symptoms During Pregnancy Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Women. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2020. 26(1): p. 37-43.

    Moss, W., et al., The Association Between Pelvic Floor Muscle Force and General Strength and Fitness in Postpartum Women. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2020. 26(6): p. 351-357.

    Dietze-Hermosa, M., et al., Intra-abdominal Pressure and Pelvic Floor Health: Should We Be Thinking About This Relationship Differently? Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg, 2020. 26(7): p. 409-414.

    Bø, K. and I.E. Nygaard, Is Physical Activity Good or Bad for the Female Pelvic Floor? A Narrative Review. Sports Med, 2020. 50(3): p. 471-484.

    Balgobin, S., et al., Standardized terminology of apical structures in the female pelvis based on a structured medical literature review. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2020. 222(3): p. 204-218.

    Allen-Brady, K., et al., Risk of pelvic organ prolapse treatment based on extended family history. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2020. 223(1): p. 105.e1-105.e8.

    2019 publications

    Wu, J., et al., Association between sleep quality and physical activity in postpartum women. Sleep Health, 2019. 5(6): p. 598-605.

    Wolpern, A.E., et al., Compliance with wrist-worn accelerometers in primiparous early postpartum women. Heliyon, 2019. 5(1): p. e01193.