Short-term natural history in women with symptoms indicative of pelvic organ prolapse.
OBJECTIVE
Information about the natural history of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is scarce.


METHODS
This was a prospective cohort study of 160 women (mean age 56 years), whose answers in a population-based survey investigation indicated presence of symptomatic prolapse (siPOP), and 120 women without siPOP (mean age 51 years).


RESULTS
Follow-up questionnaire was completed by 87%, and 67% underwent re-examination according to pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) system after 5 years. Among re-examining siPOP women, 47% had an unchanged POP-Q stage, 40% showed regression, and 13% showed progression. The key symptom "feeling of a vaginal bulge" remained unchanged in 30% of women with siPOP, 64% improved by at least one step on our four-step rating scale, and 6% deteriorated. Among control women, siPOP developed in 2%. No statistically significant relationship emerged between changes in anatomic status and changes in investigated symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Only a small proportion of women with symptomatic POP get worse within 5 years.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. ann.miedel@sodersjukhuset.se
Ann
A
Miedel
Marion
M
Ek
Gunilla
G
Tegerstedt
Marianne
M
Mæhle-Schmidt
Olof
O
Nyrén
Margareta
M
Hammarström
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000473:pathology; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology