Motivators of seeking pelvic floor physical therapy in ultra-orthodox Jewish women

Objective: Almost 50% of women with one or more children experience pelvic organ prolapse, and physical therapy for pelvic floor rehabilitation is one of the first-line treatments for women with pelvic organ prolapse seeking medical care. This study aimed to investigate whether ultra-orthodox women would proceed with pelvic floor rehabilitation taking into account Jewish religious laws—Halacha—or medical motivations. Materials and Methods: Between January and May 2015, 65 ultra-orthodox women aged 20–65 undergoing pelvic floor rehabilitation completed a questionnaire regarding their pelvic floor function, religion, and treatment motivations. Results: Most women considered both medical and Jewish religious law reasons for seeking treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Sixty-five women completed the survey. More women sought treatment taking into consideration both medical and Jewish religious law reasons, as opposed to medical or Jewish religious law reasons alone. Upholding religious commandments was an important factor in seeking medical treatment. The motivation to seek treatment for POP symptoms usually involves both medical and religious law reasons in ultra-orthodox Jewish women. The study’s strength is that it is novel in examining the religious motivations for seeking therapy for symptoms associated with POP. However, no control group was included in this study, which is a limitation. Conclusion: The findings indicate that Jewish religious law motivations were an extremely important factor among ultra-orthodox women presenting for pelvic floor rehabilitation.