A Study of the Relationship between Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Positive Dipstick Urinalysis in Postmenopausal Women

To study the relationship between pelvic organ prolapse and positive dipstick urinalysis in postmenopausal women.

From April 2014 to August 2015, the postmenopausal women who attended the urogynecology clinic, Thammasat university hospital,were asked to join in the study. After signing the informed consent, the general characteristics data including the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were collected. The physical examination and evaluation of the quantitative measurement for POP were undergone. All women were asked to take the mid-streamed urine for dipstick urinalysis. Urinary tract infections were diagnosed by positive leukocyte esterase or nitrite test. Immediately after emptying the bladder, postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) was measured by using translabial ultrasound and calculated by the formula: height x depth x 5.6.

There were 221 postmenopausal women with POP and the incidence of the urinary tract infection in this group was 17.6%. Procidentia uteri were found in 39 women and 14 women had positive nitrite or leukocyte esterase tests with a significant correlation (p = 0.001). The anterior vaginal wall was the most common descending part and usually combined with other parts. Most women had prolapses at least grade II. The average postvoid residual urine was 35.0±24.4 ml. The total eversion of vaginal wall, procidentia uteri, was significantly associated with high PVR (p<0.001). And the women with high PVR had increased risk of positive urine dipstick test (p = 0.009). There was a correlation between anterior and posterior wall prolapses and UTI (p = 0.02).

There were relationships between pelvic organ prolapse, especially procidentia uteri, anterior and posterior prolapses and UTI in postmenopausal women.