title: Change in pelvic organ support during pregnancy and the first year postpartum: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe changes in pelvic organ support from mid pregnancy until 1 year postpartum among nulliparous pregnant women, and to examine whether delivery route affects changes in pelvic organ support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Akershus University Hospital in Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 300 nulliparous pregnant women included at mid-pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pelvic organ support assessed at 21 and 37 weeks of gestation, and again at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum, by the use of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system. Linear mixed model was used to assess longitudinal change in pelvic organ support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of anatomic POP. Change in POP-Q variables over time and between delivery groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of anatomic POP ranged from 0 to 10%. Vaginal POP-Q points made a cranial shift from mid to late pregnancy, a caudal shift following delivery, and again a cranial shift after 6 weeks postpartum. Postpartum change was present following both vaginal and caesarean deliveries, but was more pronounced following vaginal delivery. The perineal body and genital hiatus became longer from mid to late pregnancy, and shortened after 6 weeks postpartum. At 12 months postpartum all POP-Q points, except cervix, had recovered to baseline in the vaginal delivery group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of anatomic POP was low in this cohort. There was change in pelvic organ support both during pregnancy and following vaginal as well as caesarean delivery. The short-term ability to recover was good after the first pregnancy and delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pelvic organ support changes during pregnancy. A contribution to the risk of POP?
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.|Faculty Division, Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reimers
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Staer-Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.|Faculty Division, Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siafarikas
authors.affiliation: Faculty Division, Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saltyte-Benth
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bø
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.|Faculty Division, Akershus University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ellström Engh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009664:Norway; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Delivery; POP; pelvic organ support; postpartum; pregnancy; primipara