Patient-Tailored Approach in Pelvic Floor Disorders: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) represent a crucial area in contemporary urogynecology and coloproctology, as they encompass a range of benign yet life-altering conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, and obstructed defecation. Despite their significant impact on quality of life, PFDs have traditionally been under-recognized and frequently misunderstood as an inevitable part of aging or childbirth. Recent shifts in both patient awareness and scientific interest have illuminated the wide variability in presentation, symptom burden, and functional impairment associated with these disorders. Despite noteworthy progress in diagnostic methods and a growing repertoire of treatment options, there remain substantial gaps in individualizing patient care and integrating evidence-based strategies within multidisciplinary frameworks. Challenges persist in standardizing assessment protocols, defining appropriate treatment thresholds, and capturing meaningful patient-centered outcomes.

This Research Topic aims to advance the understanding and implementation of patient-tailored approaches in the diagnosis and management of pelvic floor disorders. By prioritizing the unique characteristics, expectations, and clinical contexts of each patient, this initiative seeks to explore how clinicians integrate diagnostic information, patient-reported goals, and available therapeutic modalities -conservative, surgical, or combined- in their routine practice. The primary objective is to elucidate real-world strategies that move beyond uniform pathways to deliver care that is responsive to individual needs and evolving evidence.

The scope of this Research Topic encompasses original research, systematic reviews, and expert perspectives focusing on patient-centered approaches in pelvic floor disorders. Submissions are encouraged that address, but are not limited to:

o Decision-making pathways tailored to individual patient profiles;
o Comparative effectiveness of conservative versus surgical options in personalized management;
o Instruments and metrics for evaluating patient-reported outcomes;
o Implementation of multidisciplinary and collaborative care models;
o Translation of clinical guidelines into individualized care plans;
o Ethical considerations and communication in shared decision-making;
o Barriers and facilitators to personalized diagnostics and therapies.

We welcome articles featuring original research, systematic reviews, and expert perspectives related to the above themes.

Topic Editor Gabriele Naldini declares financial relationships as a paid consultant for Lipogems. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Pelvic Floor Disorders, Individualized Care, Patient-Tailored Management, Diagnostic Strategies, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Urinary Incontinence, Fecal Incontinence, Defecatory Dysfunction, Multidisciplinary Approach, Surgical Treatment

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.