Bladder neck mobility in continent nulliparous women.

Abstract

To evaluate the mobility of the vesical neck during coughing and valsalva in healthy nulliparous volunteers and to test the reliability of the technique applied. Clinical observational study. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Switzerland. Thirty-nine nulliparous volunteers. Vesical neck motion was assessed with perineal ultrasound. Intra-abdominal pressure was controlled for with an intrarectal probe. Intra-rater reliability was evaluated. Vesical neck mobility was significantly lower during coughing (8 mm, SD 4 mm) than during valsalva (15 mm, SD 10 mm) (P < 0.005). Between individuals mobility varied from 4 mm to 32 mm during coughing and from 2 mm to 31 mm during valsalva. Test-retest-studies showed a maximum difference between to tests during coughing of 4 mm and during valsalva of 5 mm. The bladder neck is mobile in normal continent women and bladder neck mobility is lower during coughing than during Valsalva.