title: Prolapse and sexual function in women with benign joint hypermobility syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and sexual dysfunction are more severe in women with benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) than in the normal population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK and University College Hospital, London, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women diagnosed with BJHS (n = 60) at University College Hospital. Control participants (n = 60) recruited from King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
  
  
  METHODS
  Objective assessment of POP was undertaken using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q). Both groups were asked to complete the Prolapse quality of life (P-QOL) and pelvic organ prolapse/urinary incontinence sexual (PISQ-12) questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of vaginal anatomy using POP-Q between the two groups. Comparison of P-QOL and PISQ-12 quality of life scores between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 120 women (60 in Study group, 60 in Control group) were recruited. All women in the study group were matched with healthy control women according to age, parity and ethnicity. There was a statistically significant difference between points Aa, Ba, Ap, Bp and C in study and control groups showing that prolapse is objectively more severe in those with BJHS. Significantly more women with BJHS felt that POP interfered with sex and defecation compared with the control group. The impact of prolapse symptoms on quality of life was statistically different in almost all nine P-QOL domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large number of women with BJHS have prolapse symptoms, which significantly affect their quality of life. POP is more severe in women with BJHS.
authors.affiliation: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mastoroudes
authors.affiliation: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giarenis
authors.affiliation: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cardozo
authors.affiliation: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srikrishna
authors.affiliation: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.affiliation: University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kazkaz
authors.affiliation: University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grahame
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004535:Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome; D055815:Young Adult