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Updated: Jan 29, 2026

Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse POP Quantification System
Published on: September 20, 2018
Perioperative changes in superficial pelvic organ prolapse quantification system measurements after prolapse surgery
Constantin M Durnea1,2, Maya Basu3, Kiran Dadhwal4
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Epsom, UK.
Objectives:
To evaluate the values of perineal body (PB) and genital hiatus (GH) before and after posterior repair. We also evaluated the introital surface area (ISA)-a sum of transverse and longitudinal GH measurements.
Methods:
This secondary analysis of a prospective case series included 94 women undergoing posterior vaginal prolapse surgery at a consultant urogynecology clinic between October 3, 2011, and October 2, 2014. Patients were examined in clinic using the pelvic organ prolapse quantification system with Valsalva maneuver, and in theatre pre- and postoperatively with traction.
Results:
Immediately postoperatively, a statistically significant change (all P<0.001) was noted for GH (mean difference -0.59 cm), PB (-0.56 cm), and ISA (-0.87 cm) compared with preoperative measurement. This effect was maintained for GH (-0.42 cm) and PB (-0.40 cm) at 2 months' follow-up (both P<0.001), and for PB alone (-0.43 cm; P=0.04) at 8 months. ISA had a moderate correlation with GH (r=0.55).
Conclusions:
Posterior repair significantly improved PB length at months 2 and 8, and GH length at month 2. ISA did not correlate with prolapse stage. Changes in GH were not maintained beyond postoperative month 2.
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