Risk factors for recurrence of genital prolapse

To review the available evidence regarding those risk factors potentially predicting a recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

POP is a very common condition in parous women, requiring very often a surgical treatment which may need to be repeated in up to 29% of cases. In the past few years, researchers have focused their attention on the evaluation of risk factors involved in either POP development or recurrence. Recent papers have reported the importance of genetic factors that could be responsible for an inherited weakness of the pelvic floor, predisposing to POP occurrence and/or recurrence. Moreover, a history of genital prolapse at the time of an elective hysterectomy, as well as an inappropriate reconstructive surgical procedure, can predict and be associated with POP development.

POP recurrence can be associated with a combination of predisposing, inciting, and intervening factors. Based on actual knowledge, it is not possible to weight or score the importance of each single risk factor reported in literature for the development of POP recurrence. Larger series (collected with validated diagnostic and therapeutic tools) and longer follow-up are, therefore, needed to draw definitive conclusions on this issue.