The risk of pelvic organ prolapse in women after obstetric traumas

Aim. Assessment of the risk of pelvic organ prolapse in women after obstetrical traumas. Materials and methods. This was a prospective observational study. It included the women aged 45-74 years. The study was conducted in the Antenatal Clinic of Maternity hospital No. 7 in Baku. Initially, a list of all female patients (17,814) aged 45-75 years, who were assigned to the Antenatal Clinics was prepared. The research sample included consistently every 25th woman from this list. The sample size (710 women) was determined taking into account the probable prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse in women and maximum permissible sampling error (3%). The sample population was divided into groups according to the degree of prolapse, the age, number of pregnancies and childbirths in medical history, body weight and body mass index, the employment, educational level and severity of comorbidity. The differences between the groups were assessed using x2 test. Statistical data processing was carried out using qualitative data analysis method. Results. The prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse was 59.9% among all assessed women, and it was low in the group of women without obstetric traumas in history (26.5%), and in women with obstetric traumas of different degrees it was 67.2-100%. Assessment of risk factors in women showed that only a small proportion of them did not have risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse (50/710; 7%). Most of women had 2 and 3 risk factors in history (32.5 and 27.0%, respectively). Conclusion. The prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse was 59.9% and varied ranging from 26.5% (in the absence of obstetric traumas) to 100% (with third- and fourth-degree perineal tears in medical history). Among the risk factors for genital prolapse (age, dysplasia of connective tissue, burdened family history and others), obstetric traumas prevail. A combination of risk factors and obstetric traumas increase the risk of pelvic organ prolapse.

pelvic organ prolapse in women, risk, obstetric trauma