title: Uterine prolapse in pregnancy: risk factors, complications and management.
abstract: Presentation of uterine prolapse is a rare event in a pregnant woman, which can be pre-existent or else manifest in the course of pregnancy. Complications resulting from prolapse of the uterus in pregnancy vary from minor cervical infection to spontaneous abortion, and include preterm labor and maternal and fetal mortality as well as acute urinary retention and urinary tract infection. Moreover, affected women may be at particular risk of dystocia during labor that could necessitate emergency intervention for delivery. Recommendations regarding the management of this infrequent but potentially harmful condition are scarce and outdated. This review will examine the causative factors of uterine prolapse and the antepartum, intrapartum and puerperal complications that may arise from this condition as well as therapeutic options available to the obstetrician. While early recognition and appropriate prenatal management of uterine prolapse during pregnancy is imperative, implementation of conservative treatment modalities throughout pregnancy, these applied in accordance with the severity of the uterus prolapse and the patient's preference, may be sufficient to achieve uneventful pregnancy and normal, spontaneous delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace , Alexandroupolis , Greece .
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsikouras
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dafopoulos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vrachnis
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iliodromiti
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouchlariotou
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinidis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsagias
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liberis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galazios
authors.forename: Georg Friedrich
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Von Tempelhoff
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy