Association between pelvic organ prolapse and climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women

To evaluate whether climacteric symptoms are related to pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in postmenopausal women.

A cross-sectional investigation was performed on 1382 postmenopausal women attending an outpatient service for menopause at a university hospital.

Data regarding climacteric symptoms, as captured by the Greene Climacteric Scale, and objective POP were retrieved from an electronic database. Additional data retrieved were age, anthropometric measures, personal and reproductive history, use of medication or drugs, coffee, smoking, state of anxiety (STAI scale score) and depression (Zung scale score).

The score of Greene Climacteric Scale was higher (p=0.02) in women with (n=538) than in those without (n=844) POP (29.6±13.6 vs. 27.8±13.; p=0.02). In multiple logistic regression models, the score was independently related to POP as a whole (OR 1.012; 95%CI 1.003,1.022; p=0.009), and to bladder prolapse (OR 1.011; 95%CI 1.007,1.07; p=0.02) or to uterus prolapse (OR 1.003; 95%CI 0.99,1.016; p=0.63) or rectum prolapse (rectocele) (OR 1.004; 95%CI 0.988,1.02; p=0.62).

In postmenopausal women, a higher burden of climacteric symptoms, is associated with POP. Underlying mechanisms were not assessed and deserve further investigation.