Prolapse reduction deteriorates the urethral closure mechanism

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) reduction is often performed in the preoperative assessment of women before POP surgery. Using urethral pressure reflectometry (UPR), we sought to investigate how POP reduction affects the urethral closure mechanism.

Women with anterior or posterior vaginal wall prolapse stage ≥II with and without POP reduction were examined with a speculum. We performed prolapse staging according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system, UPR measurements at rest and during squeezing, and standardized stress tests with 300 ml saline. All examinations were repeated after insertion of a speculum.

We included 38 women: 22 with anterior and 16 with posterior vaginal wall prolapse POP-Q stage  ≥II. During POP reduction, resting and squeezing urethral pressures decreased by 2.5 cmH₂O (p = 0.007) and 5.1 cmH₂O (p < 0.0001), respectively, in all women. During POP reduction, the number of positive stress tests increased from four (18%) to eight (36%) in women with anterior vaginal wall prolapse and from one (6%) to nine (56%) in women with posterior vaginal wall prolapse.

POP reduction decreases urethral pressure, especially during squeezing, and consequently increases the number of positive stress tests. The test itself artificially deteriorates the urethral closure mechanism.