After menopause, decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone remodel the collagen of the soft tissues thereby reducing their\nstiffness. Stress urinary incontinence is associated with involuntary urine leakage due to pathological movement of the pelvic organs\nresulting from lax suspension system, fasciae, and ligaments. This study compares the changes in the orientation and position of\nthe female pelvic organs due to weakened fasciae, ligaments, and their combined laxity. A mixture theory weighted by respective\nvolume fraction of elastin-collagen fibre compound (5%), adipose tissue (85%), and smoothmuscle (5%) is adopted to characterize\nthe mechanical behaviour of the fascia. The load carrying response (other than the functional response to the pelvic organs) of\neach fascia component, pelvic organs, muscles, and ligaments are assumed to be isotropic, hyperelastic, and incompressible. Finite\nelement simulations are conducted during Valsalva manoeuvre with weakened tissues modelled by reduced tissue stiffness. A\nsignificant dislocation of the urethrovesical junction is observed due toweakness of the fascia (13.89 mm)compared to the ligaments\n(5.47 mm). The dynamics of the pelvic floor observed in this study during Valsalva manoeuvre is associated with urethral-bladder\nhyper mobility, greater levator plate angulation, and positive Q-tip test which are observed in incontinent females.
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