What predisposes young women to genital prolapse?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive factors for genital prolapse.

STUDY DESIGN: We studied 85 young (< or = 45 year old) women who had been operated on for genital prolapse. The control group consisted of women of the same age operated on for benign ovarian tumor.

RESULTS: In the study group the number of deliveries was higher and the babies were heavier than in the control group. However, the study group had not had more instrumental deliveries. In addition, the women with prolapses more often had operations of abdominal hernias and also had more chronic pulmonary disease, e.g. asthma. The incidence of preterm delivery was the same in the women with genital prolapse as in the controls. Familial incidence of genital prolapse was about 30%.

CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that there are both acquired and congenital factors that predispose women to genital prolapse.