Is there gender bias in the research of treatment of the pelvic floor in lumbo-pelvic pain syndromes? A structured literature review.
Item
- Title
- Is there gender bias in the research of treatment of the pelvic floor in lumbo-pelvic pain syndromes? A structured literature review.
- Author(s)
- Hoehle, A
- Abstract
- Background: The underrepresentation of women in biomedical research has been a recognised issue for over thirty years. This gender bias has extensive consequences for the quality of scientific evidence, healthcare policies and treatment guidelines. Lumbo-pelvic pain syndromes (LPPS) are common conditions within the Western world and can cause high levels of morbidity and disability. Due to their complex and varying pathogenesis, high risk of chronic pain development and strong link with mental health disorders multidisciplinary and holistic care protocols have been frequently recommended. Gender bias commonly arises by assuming difference between the genders when there is sameness and vice versa. Due to societal gender conceptions and difference in the external pelvic anatomy, researchers and physicians may be biased in their consideration of the pelvic floor which in structure and function is widely identical in men and women. Objectives: To review the existing literature on the PFM-based treatment of functional/non-pathological LPPS, for equality between male and female subjects chosen for research and gender ratio of publishing authors, to answer the research question: Is there gender bias in the research of treatment of the pelvic floor in lumbo-pelvic pain syndromes? Design: Structured literature review. Methods: Five databases were searched and studies on pelvic floor-based non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatments for non-pathological/ functional LPPS retrieved. After application of inclusion and exclusion criteria to title, abstract and full text, studies were included and analysed for participant, author and study specific characteristics. The sample was divided into three participant- and two author-centred groups. Results: Men were overrepresented as both authors and subjects. Studies were published in twelve countries and showed marked heterogeneity between the gendered groups based on the interventions and outcome measures used. Methodological quality across the groups was comparable. Discussion: The sample showed a strong link between author and participant gender as researchers tended to study their own sex. The marked heterogeneity of terminology, outcome measures and interventions used, and conditions studied requires further investigation. Potential causative and maintaining factors of gender bias in field have been discussed. Conclusion: This literature review has found the evidence for pelvic floor-based treatment of non-pathological/ functional LPPS to be potentially biased by gender for both authors and participants involved.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2019
- Date Submitted
- 19.11.2019 18:31:08
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16499
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- gender bias, lumbo-pelvic pain, pelvic floor, research
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Hoehle, A, “Is there gender bias in the research of treatment of the pelvic floor in lumbo-pelvic pain syndromes? A structured literature review.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 3, 2025, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/330