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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) Quantification System
Published on: September 20, 2018
Pelvic organ support in pregnancy and postpartum
Amy L O'Boyle1, John D O'Boyle, Byron Calhoun
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Naval Medical Center, 620 John Paul Jones Circle, Portsmouth, VA 23078, USA. amyoboyle@aol.com
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate pelvic organ support during pregnancy and following delivery. This was a prospective observational study. Pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) examinations were performed during each trimester of pregnancy and in the postpartum. Statistical comparisons of POPQ stage and of the nine measurements comprising the POPQ between the different time intervals were made using Wilcoxon's signed rank and the paired t-test. Comparison of POPQ stage by mode of delivery was made using Fisher's exact test. One hundred thirty-five nulliparous women underwent 281 pelvic organ support evaluations. During both the third trimester and postpartum, POPQ stage was significantly higher compared to the first trimester (p<0.001). In the postpartum, POPQ stage was significantly higher in women delivered vaginally compared to women delivered by cesarean (p=0.02). In nulliparous pregnant women, POPQ stage appears to increase during pregnancy and does not change significantly following delivery. In the postpartum, POPQ stage may be higher in women delivered vaginally compared to women delivered by cesarean.
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