The effect of cesarean section on the dimensions and ratios of mons pubis

Abstract

Abstract Background Pregnancy and labor can impact women’s body contours. After a cesarean section, some women may experience aesthetic issues such as the formation of a panniculus and a bulging mons pubis. This study aimed to investigate the impact of cesarean sections on the dimensions of the mons pubis and their ratios. Methods The study included 194 multiparous Caucasian women. Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 40 years, and their BMI ranged from 18 to 30. They were divided into two BMI groups. Each group was further subdivided based on the mode of delivery into vaginal delivery (VD) and cesarean section (CS) groups. Manual measurements of the three dimensions of the mons pubis (monal height, monal width, and monal length) were conducted. Measurements were recorded in centimeters in the lithotomy position using iGaging 8-inch digital outside calipers. Monal height is the distance between the anterior surface of the symphysis pubis and the maximum height of the mons pubis (calculated by measuring the distance between the anterior wall of the vagina and the maximum height of the mons pubis minus the distance between the anterior wall of the vagina and the anterior surface of the symphysis pubis). Monal width is the maximum transverse distance between the merging borders of the mons pubis and the fat of the lower abdominal wall. Monal length is the maximum longitudinal distance between the merging upper border of the mons pubis and the fat of the lower abdominal wall and the upper end of the pudendal cleft. Results No significant statistical difference was observed between the three dimensions of the mons pubis in vaginal delivery and cesarean section populations in the two groups. The changes in the ratios between the two groups’ different monal dimensions in the cesarean section population are minimal and do not follow a consistent pattern. There were no significant differences between the dimensions of single and repeated CS populations, with non-trendy changes in the different ratios in the repeated CS group. Conclusion Even when repeated, cesarean section minimally affects the dimensions and ratios of the mons pubis. However, more studies with standardized fascial and subcutaneous fat closure are needed.