Association Between Weight Change Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Weight Change During the Perinatal Period Among Chinese...

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a global problem that severely affects a woman's quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the association between weight change during pregnancy and post-pregnancy POP.

This study retrospectively enrolled 640 participants from Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics (institution 1, n = 363 cases) in northern China and First People's Hospital of Wanzhou District, Chongqing (institution 2, n = 277 cases) in southwestern China. The participants were grouped into POP-Q I-II (n = 288), POP-Q III-IV (n = 132), and non-POP groups (control group, n = 220). Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), weight gain during pregnancy, and weight retention at 6 months postpartum were compared among the three groups after eliminating confounding factors.

No statistically significant differences were detected in the pre-pregnancy BMI in the POP-Q I-IV, POP-Q I-II, and POP-Q III-IV groups compared to the control group (P > 0.05). Significant statistical differences (P < 0.05) were observed in weight gain during pregnancy (≥14 kg) in the POP-Q I-IV, POP-Q I-II, and POP-Q III-IV groups compared with the control group. Significant statistical differences (P < 0.05) were observed in weight retention (≥5 kg) at 6 months postpartum among the POP-Q I-IV, POP-Q I-II, and POP-Q III-IV groups compared to the control group.

Weight change during the perinatal period is the risk factor of postpartum POP. Specifically, a pre-pregnancy BMI < 23 kg/m² did not increase the risk of POP, whereas gestational weight gain ≥14 kg and weight retention ≥5 kg at 6 months postpartum significantly increased the risk of postpartum POP. Weight management programs during and after pregnancy may help reduce the risk of POP.