Pelvic organ prolapse: prevalence and risk factors in a Brazilian population

Although pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent condition among Brazilians, population-based epidemiological studies of POP are scarce. We studied POP in a population of women undergoing routine examination to determine its prevalence, distribution and relationship to risk factors.

This quantitative descriptive study surveyed 432 women, based on prolapse prevalence, who sought routine care and were assessed for prolapse staging using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system (POP-Q). Demographics, health history, socioeconomic data, symptoms and risk factors for prolapse were self-reported by the participants.

A total of 226 (52.3%) of the examined women had POP. The prevalences of POP in relation to stage were as follows: stage 1 (27.8%), stage 2 (23.1%), and stage 3 (1.4%). Regarding risk factors, a history of vaginal delivery (odds ratio, OR, 6.678, 95% confidence interval, CI, 4.16-10.73), delivery of a newborn heavier than 4 kg (OR 2.056, 95% CI 1.19-3.56) and menopausal status (OR 2.793, 95% CI 1.66-4.70) were all associated with a higher risk of prolapse.

We found that a majority of the population sample exhibited some degree of prolapse, suggesting that POP deserves substantial clinical attention. The risk factors identified suggest that eventual prolapse may be unavoidable in some women. Public policies should be implemented with respect to modifiable risk factors and antenatal care.