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Comparative Study
. 2009 Dec;20(12):1407-11.
doi: 10.1007/s00192-009-0937-3. Epub 2009 Sep 24.

Pelvic organ support among primiparous women in the first year after childbirth

Victoria L Handa  1 , Ingrid Nygaard, Kimberly Kenton, Geoffrey W Cundiff, Chiara Ghetti, Wen Ye, Holly E Richter; Pelvic Floor Disorders Network
Collaborators, Affiliations
Comparative Study

Pelvic organ support among primiparous women in the first year after childbirth

Victoria L Handa et al. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2009 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis: This study describes pelvic organ support after childbirth.

Methods: This ancillary analysis of the Childbirth and Pelvic Symptoms Imaging Study compares pelvic organ prolapse quantification 6-12 months after childbirth among three cohorts of primiparous women: vaginal delivery with sphincter tear (n = 106), vaginal delivery without sphincter tear (n = 108), and cesarean without labor (n = 39).

Results: Of participants, 31.2% had stage II support. Prolapse to or beyond the hymen was present in 14% after vaginal delivery with sphincter tear (95% confidence interval 8%, 22%), 15% (9%, 24%) after vaginal delivery without sphincter tear, and 5% (1%, 17%) after cesarean without labor (p = 0.23). A study of 132 women per group would be required for 80% power to test differences between 5% and 15%.

Conclusions: While these data provide insufficient power to dismiss a difference in pelvic organ support between modes of delivery, they add to our understanding of support following childbirth.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest Dr. Kenton serves as a consultant for Pfizer; the remaining authors have no conflicts of interest.

References

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