Published in:
01-12-2015 | Original Article
Family history associated with pelvic organ prolapse in young women
Published in: International Urogynecology Journal | Issue 12/2015
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Introduction and hypothesis
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) among young women is a relatively rare disorder with a unique clinical background. The objective of our study was to investigate the relative risk factors for POP and the relationship between family history and POP development in young women.
Methods
In a retrospective longitudinal study we investigated 26 young patients (age <45 years) who underwent POP surgery and compared them to a control group of 26 patients (age >55 years) who underwent similar surgery and were matched with regard to parity. All women were interviewed for family history of POP, POP surgery among first-degree relatives, and hernia repair.
Results
Family history of POP was five times more prevalent among women in the study group than in the control group (46 % vs. 8 %, P < 0.01). Moreover, POP surgery among the first-degree relatives was significantly more prevalent in the study group (23.1 % vs. 3.8 %, p < 0.05). The prevalence of a family history of POP in more than one first-degree relative (11.5 % vs. 3.84 %, p = 0.3) and the family history of hernia repair among first-degree relatives (11.5 % vs. 15.4 %) did not differ between the groups.
Conclusions
A family history of POP is significantly more common in younger affected women than in older affected women. We suggest that future genetic studies should concentrate on this specific population.