Practical use of the T.A.P.E. 

Jacques Beco M.D.

To print a tape ready to fill by yourself click here

The aim of this chapter is to show you the aspect of the TAPE in different perineal situations. The complete description of this tool is available in other parts of the website. 

The T.A.P.E. or Three Axis Perineal Evaluation diagram is designed to help the perineologist to think about the 3 axis of the perineum (urological, gynecological and urological) each time he has to manage a functional trouble in a woman.

The normal shape of the TAPE is hexagonal (Figure 1). 

Figure 1: Normal TAPE: it has an hexagonal shape. Each axis has an excess and a deficiency end.  The values: - 0 = no problem - 1 = mild problem - 2 = severe problem The gynecological axis is in red: - excess end: dyspareunia (sexuals troubles) - deficiency end: prolapse The urological axis is in yellow: - excess end: dysuria - deficiency end: urinary incontinence The coloproctological axis is in pink: - excess end: dyschesia (constipation) - deficiency end: anal incontinence

 The aspect of the TAPE in case of a mild dyspareunia is presented in the figure 2.

Figure 2: TAPE in a patient with a mild dyspareunia

In the figure 3, a more complicated situation involving the 3 axis is presented.

Figure 3: TAPE in a patient with troubles on the 3 axis:  - mild dyspareunia - severe anal incontinence - mild urinary incontinence After a delivery with forceps it is possible to discover such a situation during the classical postnatal examination. If the gynecologist doesn't ask the right questions maybe the patient will have to live many years with this problem without any help.

If you want to use this tool to follow your patients, you can use the figure 4 (right click and save on your computer but don't remove the copyright information).

Figure 4: this is a TAPE which has to be completed by a doctor or a patient.  Click on the image if you want to have it alone in a new window ready  to print.

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