New Advances in Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions Management: 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Female pelvic floor dysfunctions (PFDs) are common conditions that affect over 20% of the adult population. These disorders, which include urinary incontinence, anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and sexual dysfunction, represent serious health problems for the female population. In fact, in addition to physical discomfort, they could lead to psychological distress, such as anxiety and low self-esteem, leading to depression status.

The prevalence of PFDs increases with age, and it is estimated that the number of American women with at least one pelvic floor disorder will increase from 28.1 million in 2010 to 43.8 million in 2050. Considering the general aging of the global population, these problems could further increase. Additionally, due to the embarrassment of patients, the belief that PFDs are a normal and inevitable part of aging, and the lack of knowledge about treatment options, the prevalence is often underreported. Less than 20% of symptomatic women self-report their problems.

Furthermore, PFDs have a great impact on financial policy. In the USA, pelvic organ prolapse is thought to be the leading cause of more than 300,000 surgical procedures per year with 25% undergoing reoperations, for a total annual cost of more than USD 1 billion. Meanwhile, the annual direct cost of urinary incontinence in the USA alone is USD 16.3 billion, of which 3/4 is for the management of women who have this condition.

As women continue to live longer lives, understanding how to promote dialogues between clinicians and patients around these issues and finding therapies to reduce its effect on women’s quality of life should be a priority for future research. Moreover, it is important to develop the concept of a multidisciplinary approach to PFDs, which, in recent years, has led to the improvement of the condition for women.

In this Special Issue, we would like to provide a collection of papers, original articles, or clinical/systematic reviews aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of PFDs.

This Special Issue is the continuation of the Special Issue "New Advances in Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions Management" (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/medicina/special_issues/Female_Pelvic_Floor_Dysfunctions).

Dr. Andrea Braga
Guest Editor

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