Bladder neck mobility in continent nulliparous women

Objective To evaluate the mobility of the vesical neck during coughing and valsalva in healthy nulliparous volunteers and to test the reliability of t he technique applied. Design Clinical observational study. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne , Switzerland. Population Thirty-nine nulliparous volunteers. Methods Vesical neck motion was assessed with perineal ultrasound. Intra-ab dominal pressure was controlled for with an intrarectal probe. Intra-rater reliability was evaluated. Results 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 indi viduals 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 bet ween to tests during coughing of 4 mm and during valsalva of 5 mm. Conclusion The bladder neck is mobile in normal continent women and bladder neck mobility is lower during coughing than during Valsalva.