Pelvic organ prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse has been estimated to be present in approximately 50% of parous women, with 10-20% seeking treatment for their symptoms. MacLennan et al. reported that 46.2% of women aged 15-97 years were experiencing or had experienced pelvic floor dysfunction. Current symptoms of prolapse, vaginal laxity during coitus and previous pelvic floor repairs were reported by 8.8%, 5.2% and 23.7% of women respectively. Olsen et al., in a large retrospective study of a North American insurance group, found that by age 80 years, 11.1% of women have undergone surgery for prolapse and/or urinary incontinence, with 29.2% of these requiring repeat surgery. Boyles et al. recently reported that, each year, approximately 200,000 women undergo surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in the United States. The high rate of dissatisfaction with traditional prolapse surgery highlights the need for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of genital prolapse, improved patient assessment and the development of more effective and durable repair techniques. Dissatisfaction with surgery may not only be related to recurrent prolapse but may also be caused by the development or persistence of urinary or anorectal symptoms including incontinence or coital difficulty.