Prevalence of genital prolapse in Thai menopausal women (using new standardization classification).
BACKGROUND
There is an increasing number of menopausal women in Thailand (estimation of 5 million women). There is no published data on the prevalence of genital prolapse among Thai menopausal woman. So the authors created this hospital based study to identify the magnitude of this problem in Thai menopausal women.


OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence and symptoms of genital prolapse in Thai menopausal women attending the menopausal clinic in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.


METHODS
Descriptive study (Cross-sectional study).


METHODS
Two hundred and fifteen Thai menopausal women attending the menopause clinic at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital from the 1st of January to the 28th of February 2004 were recruited. Urinary symptoms history taking and pelvic examination were done. The severity of any prolapse was classified using International Continence Society classification.


RESULTS
Prevalance of Thai menopausal women having any type of genital prolapse was 43.3%. Anterior vaginal wall prolapse and superior vaginal prolapse were the two highest prevalences of genital prolapse (29.3% and 14.9%). The prevalence of genital prolapse increased by the menopausal age. The two leading symptoms were stress incontinence and vaginal outlet relaxation (89.3% and 51.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
From the present study, the authors found the prevalence of any genital prolapse (43.3%) and stress incontinence(89.3%) among Thai women attending menopausal clinic in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. The authors strongly recommend pelvic examination and urinary-symptoms history taking to evaluate the severity of genital prolapse.
Chuenchompoonut
Vorachai
V
Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Bunyavejchevin
Suvit
S
Wisawasukmongchol
Wirach
W
Taechakraichana
Nimit
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*