Genitourinary prolapse and joint hypermobility in women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether joint hypermobility, a clinical marker for connective tissue abnormalities, is associated with genital prolapse.


METHODS
One hundred seven women were recruited from a university gynecology clinic. Subjects were examined in the standing and nonstraining positions for cystocele, rectocele, and uterine or vault prolapse. The degree of prolapse was graded 0-3. A separate investigator, blinded to the results of the gynecologic examination and using accepted criteria, evaluated each subject for joint hypermobility.


RESULTS
Clinical joint hypermobility was found in 39 of 107 (36%) study patients. Subjects with joint hypermobility had a significantly higher prevalence of cystocele (33 of 37 [89%] versus 40 of 69 [58%], P = .001), rectocele (32 of 38 [84%] versus 33 of 69 [48%], P = .0002), and uterine or vault prolapse (25 of 38 [66%] versus 20 of 69 [29%], P = .0002) compared to women with normal joint mobility, respectively. No differences in the prevalence of stress incontinence were found between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with joint hypermobility have a significantly higher prevalence of genital prolapse compared to women with normal mobility, which suggests an underlying connective tissue abnormality as one etiology of pelvic relaxation.
Norton
P A
PA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.
Baker
J E
JE
Sharp
H C
HC
Warenski
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011391:Prolapse; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000150:complications; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000150:complications; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000150:complications