Risk of genital prolapse and urinary incontinence due to pregnancy and delivery. A prospective study

Recent literature shows conflicting results regarding this subject. Using a prospective study, we analysed the possible effects of pregnancy and delivery upon the pelvic floor support.

In a group of 344 patients who received our phone-call 3 months after delivery, only 58 accepted the investigation, and came for an exam. We looked out for pathologies such as genital prolapse and stress urinary incontinence (IUS). During the exam we analysed: vagino-perineal scars; descensus of the vaginal walls and of the uterus; dyspareunia; urinary frequency and urgency; urge Incontinence and IUS; weakening of pelvic floor muscles.

We objectively identified in cystocele the prevalent "anatomic" damage, and in IUS, the most frequent "functional" damage. We then tried to find a statistical correlation between these pathologies and the most important risk factors cited in the literature.

Through the systematic analysis of the obtained data, we thus identified the most important risk factors that lead to the development of these pathologies: operative delivery, pluriparity, heavy work, high BMI in mothers and newborns. The results that emerged from our study lead to some remarks of interest and discussion.