title: A systematic review of clinical studies on hereditary factors in pelvic organ prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is growing evidence that pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is at least partly caused by underlying hereditary risk factors. The aim of our study was to provide a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of clinical studies on family history of POP as a risk factor for POP in individual women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The databases PubMed and Embase were searched. Clinical studies reporting on family history of POP in relation to POP in individual women were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen studies were included, of which eight enabled us to calculate a pooled odds ratio (OR). The pooled OR of POP in case of a positive family history of POP was 2.58 (95 % confidence interval 2.12-3.15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with POP are substantially more likely to have family members with the same condition compared to women without POP. This strengthens the hypothesis that genetic predisposition plays an important role in the development of POP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 791, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. sabrinalince@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sabrina L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lince
authors.forename: Leon C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: van Kempen
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Vierhout
authors.forename: Kirsten B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Kluivers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors