Pelvic organ support among primiparous women in the first year after childbirth.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. vhanda1@jhmi.edu
Victoria L
VL
Handa
Ingrid
I
Nygaard
Kimberly
K
Kenton
Geoffrey W
GW
Cundiff
Chiara
C
Ghetti
Wen
W
Ye
Holly E
HE
Richter
D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000293:injuries; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult