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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Quantification of Levator Ani Hiatus Enlargement by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Males and Females with Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Published on: April 17, 2019
Pelvic-floor muscle function in women with pelvic organ prolapse
Diane F Borello-France1, Victoria L Handa, Morton B Brown
1Department of Physical Therapy, 111 Health Sciences Bldg, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA. borellofrance@duq.edu
Background And Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether pelvic organ prolapse severity, pelvic symptoms, quality of life, and sexual function differ based on pelvic-floor muscle function in women planning to have prolapse surgery.
Subjects And Methods:
Three hundred seventeen women without urinary stress incontinence who were enrolled in a multicenter surgical trial were examined to determine pelvic-floor muscle function (by Brink scale score). The subjects were 61.6+/-10.2 (X+/-SD) years of age. Thirteen percent of the subjects had stage II (to the hymen) pelvic organ prolapse, 68% had stage III (beyond the hymen) prolapse, and 19% had stage IV (complete vaginal eversion) prolapse. Subjects with lowest (3-6) and highest (10-12) Brink scale scores were compared on prolapse severity, pelvic symptoms and bother, quality of life, and sexual function.
Results:
Subjects with the highest Brink scores (n=75) had less advanced prolapse, smaller genital hiatus measurements, and less urinary symptom burden compared with those with the lowest Brink scores (n=56). The results indicated that pelvic-floor muscle function was not associated with condition-specific quality of life or sexual function.
Discussion And Conclusion:
Although modestly clinically significant, better pelvic-floor muscle function was associated with less severe prolapse and urinary symptoms.
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