Perception of prolapse-associated symptoms by age: a cross-sectional study

We sought to determine if age affects how women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) perceive associated symptoms.

A secondary analysis was performed on a previously published cross-sectional study of participants presenting for POP to three urogynecology centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Chile. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding the presence and bother of associated symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using Mantel-Haenszel χ2 tests or Fisher's exact tests.

Of 202 participants, 25 were under 50 years, 38 were aged 50-59 years, 71 were aged 60-69 years, and 68 were aged 70 years and above. The majority of participants below 50 and 50-59 years had POP-Q stage 2 prolapse (60% and 53%, respectively), and the majority of participants 60-69 years and 70 years and above had POP-Q stage 3 prolapse (70% and 51%, respectively). The most common symptom was bulge (80.2%). Only three symptoms, stress urinary incontinence, back pain, and pelvic pain, significantly varied in the degree of bother among the three groups, with pelvic pain and back pain almost twice as common in those below 50 years old (64.0% and 64.0%) compared with those 70 years and above (39.7% and 33.8%, P=0.04 and <0.01).

Vaginal bulge is the most common prolapse-associated symptom. POP-associated pelvic floor symptoms are experienced similarly across study participants, regardless of age, with the exception of stress urinary incontinence and pain.