Prevalence of genital prolapse symptoms in primary care: a cross-sectional survey.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms in a community-dwelling population in the United Kingdom.


METHODS
All women over the age of 18 from a community practice were sent the validated International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for vaginal symptoms (ICIQ-VS), to determine their POP symptoms. Data were analysed as numbers (raw data) and percentages of responders. Statistical comparisons were made using Chi-squared and Kruskal-Wallis tests as appropriate.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were mailed to 3,412 women, 1,832 completed questionnaires were received (response 53.7 %). Symptoms strongly associated with prolapse; vaginal bulge/lump and bulge or lump outside of the vagina had a prevalence of 8.4 % and 4.9 % respectively. Vaginal symptoms, previous pelvic floor surgery, and age were statistically increased in those who had had a previous vaginal delivery. There were statistically worse scores (more symptoms) for the group with any vaginal delivery with regard to "feeling a loose or lax vagina", "a vaginal lump or bulge coming down in the vagina". There was a high prevalence of worry regarding sexual function, regardless of delivery status, with no statistically significant differences found between those who had had a vaginal delivery and those who had not. The group with no vaginal deliveries described a statistically significant increase in the reported sensation of "do you feel your vagina is too tight".


CONCLUSIONS
Symptoms of POP were increased in those women who had experienced a vaginal delivery, whilst the sensation of having a tight vagina was decreased in those who had had a previous vaginal birth.
University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Newcastle Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG, UK, jasoncooper@doctors.org.uk.
Jason
J
Cooper
Manjula
M
Annappa
Davina
D
Dracocardos
Wendy
W
Cooper
Sara
S
Muller
Christian
C
Mallen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012677:Sensation; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014621:Vagina; D055815:Young Adult