Vaginal wall descensus and pelvic floor symptoms in older women

OBJECTIVE: To understand the clinical significance of early pelvic organ prolapse in older women, we studied associations between vaginal descensus and pelvic floor symptoms. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 270 women enrolled at one site of the Women's Health Initiative clinical trial completed a questionnaire modified from the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory on pelvic floor symptoms and underwent a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) examination. We tested associations between symptoms (individual and grouped) with anterior, posterior, uterine, and maximum vaginal descensus. RESULTS: Mean age was 68 years. Ninety-six percent had POP-Q stages I or II. Only obstructive urinary symptoms and feeling a bulge were associated with vaginal descensus. Obstructive urinary symptom scores increased as anterior (P = .04), posterior (P < .01), and maximal (P = .01) vaginal descensus increased. Urinary incontinence or bowel symptoms were not associated with descensus of any vaginal compartment. 'See or feel a bulge,' reported by 11 women (4%), was associated with descensus in all compartments (P < or = .04 for all) and with prolapse at or beyond the hymen (P < .001). This symptom was specific (100%), but not sensitive (16%) for prolapse, defined as descensus at or beyond the hymen. CONCLUSION: Vaginal support defects in older women are associated with obstructive urinary symptoms and the symptom of seeing or feeling a bulge. However, symptoms are not useful in discriminating between women with and without milder vaginal wall descensus. Based on these results, we suggest that other etiologies for bothersome bladder or bowel complaints be considered before performing surgery for early pelvic organ prolapse.     

Pelvic organ descent and symptoms of pelvic floor disorders

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the relationship between symptoms of pelvic floor disorders, and measurement of pelvic organ prolapse. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cross-sectional study assessed prolapse in 905 women in an academic urogynecologic practice using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification exam. Symptoms were assessed with a Likert symptom questionnaire and the Urogenital Distress Inventory. Relationships between symptoms and prolapse were analyzed using Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: Symptoms of "bulging" correlated moderately to the greatest extent of prolapse (r=0.4, P<.001). Frequency of bother progressively increases when the leading edge descends from -3 and 0. Between +1 and +5, 90% of women report bother. Symptoms typically attributed to anterior or posterior wall prolapse did not correlate with descent of the respective compartment. CONCLUSION: "Bulging" is the principle symptom that correlates with prolapse severity. We found no discrete anatomic position that discriminates between prolapse as a disease state and normal anatomic variation.     

Transperineal ultrasound imaging of the pelvic floor muscles in women with pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms: A cross-sectional study

Objective

Transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) assessment of the pelvic floor muscle (morphological and dynamic function) in women with pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms.

Vaginal electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor: a randomized feasibility study in urinary incontinent elderly women

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effectiveness of intravaginal electrical stimulation (ES) of the pelvic floor for urinary incontinence in elderly women, and to determine whether ES of the pelvic floor is a preferable treatment for urinary incontinence in elderly women. METHODS: Postmenopausal women (age 65 years or older) were enrolled in a randomized clinical trial and underwent every-other-day ES of the pelvic floor, or a daily Kegel exercise (KE) program. Objective outcome variables were: (1) Urinary leakage (during a standardized PAD test), (2) pelvic muscle strength (measured by a perineometer), and (3) detrusor instability (on ambulant urodynamic registration). Subjective outcome variables were women's subjective assessment of change in urinary symptoms based on the PRAFAB score. Twenty-four women treated with ES and 11 women treated with Kegel exercises completed the 8-week study program. The Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: No significant improvement in objective outcome variables was observed in the population treated with ES compared with the population treated with KE (with 29.2% vs. 36.4% of the women showing objective improvement in measured urinary leakage). Neither was subjective improvement significant, with 29.2% vs. 27.3% of the women reporting improvement in the amount of urinary leakage. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of enrolled women was very small this study shows that: 1. Treating elderly women with vaginal ES of the pelvic floor has a high physical and emotional cost for the individual. 2. The effectiveness of ES of the pelvic floor in urinary incontinent elderly women is low. 3. There is no great discrepancy between objective amelioration (PAD test) and subjective amelioration (PRAFAB score/quantity of urinary leakage), if the objective improvement is adequately defined. 4. It is not reasonable to advise elderly women with urinary incontinence to undertake this treatment procedure. The effectiveness of treatment does not compensate for the long-lasting and intense treatment protocol. 5. We terminated this study because of the negative outcome with ES.     

Triple therapy with Lactobacilli acidophili,estriol plus pelvic floor rehabilitation for symptoms of urogenital aging in postmenopausal women

Purpose

To assess the effects of the combination of pelvic floor rehabilitation, intravaginal estriol and Lactobacillus acidophli administration on stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urogenital atrophy and recurrent urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women.

Methods

136 postmenopausal women with urogenital aging symptoms were enrolled in this prospective randomized study. Patients: randomly divided into two groups and each group consisted of 68 women. Interventions: Subjects in the triple therapy (group I) received 1 intravaginal ovule containing 30 mcg estriol and Lactobacilli acidophili (50 mg lyophilisate containing at least 100 million live bacteria) such as once daily for 2 weeks and then two ovules once weekly for a total of 6 months as maintenance therapy plus pelvic floor rehabilitation. Subjects in the group II received one intravaginal estriol ovule (1 mg) plus pelvic floor rehabilitation in a similar regimen. Mean outcome measures: We evaluated urogenital symptomatology, urine cultures, colposcopic findings, urethral cytologic findings, urethral pressure profiles and urethrocystometry before, as well as after 6 months of treatment.

Results

After therapy, the symptoms and signs of urogenital atrophy significantly improved in both groups. 45/59 (76.27 %) of the group I and 26/63 (41.27 %) of the group II referred a subjective improvement of their incontinence. In the patients treated by triple therapy with lactobacilli, estriol plus pelvic floor rehabilitation, we observed significant improvements of colposcopic findings, and there were statistically significant increases in mean maximum urethral pressure, in mean urethral closure pressure, as well as in the abdominal pressure transmission ratio to the proximal urethra.

Conclusions

Our results showed that triple therapy with L. acidophili, estriol plus pelvic floor rehabilitation was effective and should be considered as first-line treatment for symptoms of urogenital aging in postmenopausal women.     

Effects of intravaginal estriol and pelvic floor rehabilitation on urogenital aging in postmenopausal women

Purpose  

To assess the effects of the combination of pelvic floor rehabilitation and intravaginal estriol administration on stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urogenital atrophy and recurrent urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women.     

Immediate postvoid residual volumes in women with symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and clinical and urodynamic associations of postvoid residual volumes (PVRs), measured immediately after micturition, in women with symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. METHODS: The patients were 1,140 women presenting consecutively for their initial urogynecological assessment, including urodynamics. They were studied prospectively. Measurement of PVRs was by transvaginal ultrasonography within 60 seconds of micturition. After the estimation of prevalence of the different levels of PVR, an appropriate upper limit of normal PVR was estimated and associations then were sought for PVRs with a wide range of clinical and urodynamic parameters. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of PVRs was 76% at 0-10 mL, 5% at 11-30 mL, 5% at 31-50 mL, 8% at 51-100 mL, and 6% at more than 100 mL. Thus, using transvaginal ultrasonography, 81% of immediate PVRs were 30 mL or less. Higher than 30 mL, a significantly increased prevalence of women presenting with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) was noted (P<.001). The level of 30 mL was deemed to be an appropriate upper limit of normal PVR. The prevalence of PVRs higher than 30 mL increased significantly with age (P<.001) and higher grades of prolapse (P<.001). There was a significant inverse relation of PVRs higher than 30 mL to the symptom of stress incontinence (P=.018) and the diagnosis of urodynamic stress incontinence (P<.001). CONCLUSION: Eighty-one percent of immediate PVRs (95% confidence interval 79-84%) in symptomatic women are 30 mL or less. Postvoid residual volumes higher than this level are significantly associated with increasing age, higher grades of prolapse, and an increased prevalence of recurrent UTIs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.     

The significance of pelvic floor support on the pelvic floor muscle functions of women with lower urinary tract symptoms

ObjectiveTo explore the significance of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function among women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).Materials and methodsFour-dimensional ultrasound data of 577 women with LUTS were retrospectively analyzed. The bladder neck and genital hiatus were assessed during resting, coughing, and squeezing. The bladder neck location, genitohiatal size, and genitohiatal location were evaluated with bladder neck distance (BNd) and bladder neck angle (BNa), genitohiatal dimension (GHd) and genitohiatal area (GHAR), and genitohiatal angle (GHa), respectively.ResultsCompared with women without POP (n = 306), women with POP (n = 271) exhibited higher rates of levator complete avulsion (6.5% vs. 40.2%, P < 0.001), shorter BNd (2.84 ± 1.56 cm vs. 2.45 ± 0.45 cm, P = 0.018), larger BNa (92 ± 15° vs. 101 ± 21°, P < 0.001), longer GHd (5.25 ± 0.72 cm vs. 5.60 ± 0.87 cm, P < 0.001), larger GHa (141 ± 10° vs. 145 ± 9°, P = 0.004), and larger GHAR (20.0 ± 4.7 cm² vs. 24.2 ± 5.6 cm², P < 0.001) during resting. Fewer women with POP were able to maintain stable bladder neck location (79.5% vs. 65.5%, P < 0.001), genitohiatal size (60.7% vs. 51.9%, P = 0.042), and genitohiatal location (61.6% vs. 52.8%, P = 0.044) following coughing. Fewer women with POP were capable of squeezing (77.8% vs. 58.3%, P < 0.001).ConclusionAmong women with LUTS, the presence of POP is associated with weaker resting, involuntary, and voluntary PFM functions.     

Progression and remission of pelvic organ prolapse: a longitudinal study of menopausal women

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the natural history of pelvic organ prolapse after menopause. STUDY DESIGN: Over 2 to 8 years, participants in the estrogen plus progestin trial of the Women's Health Initiative at the University of California Davis had annual pelvic examinations, with an assessment of uterine prolapse, cystocele, and rectocele. The findings from these examinations were used to describe the incidence of pelvic organ prolapse, the probability of progression or regression, and the associated risk factors. RESULTS: At baseline, 31.8% of women had pelvic organ prolapse (n=412 women). The annual incidences of cystocele, rectocele, and uterine prolapse were 9.3, 5.7, and 1.5 cases per 100 women-years, respectively. Incident prolapse was associated with increasing parity and waist circumference. The progression rates for grade 1 pelvic organ prolapse (per 100 women-years) were 9.5 for cystocele, 13.5 for rectocele, and 1.9 for uterine prolapse. The annual rates of regression (per 100 women-years) was 23.5, 22, and 48, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that pelvic organ prolapse is not always chronic and progressive as traditionally thought. Spontaneous regression is common, especially for grade 1 prolapse.     

广西地区壮族女性盆底功能障碍性疾病状况调查

目的调查广西地区壮族女性盆底功能障碍性疾病的患病率、患病相关因素及其症状表现。方法采用整群分层随机抽样的方法,抽取年龄≥18岁的广西地区壮族女性3000名,进行现场问卷调查和妇科检查。结果共2938名妇女有效填写了问卷,占97.9%。结果显示女性盆底功能障碍性疾病的患病率为22.6%（663/2938）,其中压力性尿失禁患病率14.6%（428/2938）,盆腔器官脱垂患病率9.3%（273/2938）,联合患病率1.3%（38/2938）。结论广西地区壮族女性盆底功能障碍性疾病的患病率与国内其他地区相比偏低。高龄、多次分娩、阴道分娩、干重体力活、慢性肺部疾病、高体重指数是女性盆底功能障碍性疾病的高危因素。     

Association between pelvic floor dysfunction,and clinical and ultrasonographic evaluation in primiparous women: a cross-sectional study

Purpose

Disorders related to pelvic floor include urinary incontinence (UI), anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, sexual dysfunction and pelvic pain. Because pelvic floor dysfunctions (PFD) can be diagnosed clinically, imaging techniques serve as auxiliary tools for establishing an accurate diagnosis. The objective is to evaluate the PFD in primiparous women after vaginal delivery and the association between clinical examination and three-dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a in tertiary maternity. All primiparous women with vaginal deliveries that occurred between January 2013 and December 2015 were invited. Women who attended the invitation underwent detailed anamnesis, questionnaire application, physical examination and endovaginal and endoanal 3DUS. Crude and adjusted predictor factors for PFD were analyzed.

Results

Fifty women were evaluated. Sexual dysfunction was the most prevalent PFD (64.6%). When associated with clinical features and PFD, oxytocin use increased by approximately four times the odds of UI (crude OR 4.182, 95% CI 1.149–15.219). During the multivariate analysis, the odds of UI were increased in forceps use by approximately 11 times (adjusted OR 11.552, 95% CI 11.155–115.577). When the clinical and obstetrical predictors for PFD were associated with 3DUS, forceps increased the odds of lesion of the pubovisceral muscle and anal sphincter diagnosed by 3DUS by sixfold (crude OR 6.000, 95% CI 1.172–30.725), and in multivariate analysis forceps again increased the odds of injury by approximately 7 times (adjusted OR 7.778, 95% CI 1.380–43.846).

Conclusion

Sexual dysfunction was the most frequent PFD. The use of forceps in primiparous women was associated with a greater chance of UI and pelvic floor muscle damage diagnosed by 3DUS.

     

Vaginal flora in postmenopausal women: the effect of estrogen replacement

Objective:To determine the effect of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on the vaginal flora of postmenopausal women.Methods: Vaginal cultures were obtained from 15 postmenopausal women whose hormonal statuses were documented by serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and serum estrogen levels. After 8 weeks of ERT, consisting of 0.1 mg of estradiol delivered daily by dermal patch, the vaginal cultures were repeated, as were measurements of the vaginal pH, serum FSH, and serum estrogen levels.Results: Vaginal cultures revealed no significant change in the incidence of lactobacilli or of all aerobes. However, the incidence of anaerobic species fell after treatment from 47% to 13% (P = 0.05), and the incidence of anaerobic gram-negative rods declined after treatment from 40% prior to ERT to 7% (P = 0.035). Prior to ERT, the difference in mean vaginal pH between lactobacilli-positive and lactobacilli-negative subjects was not significant, but, following the administration of exogenous estrogen, the lactobacilli-positive subjects exhibited a significantly lower mean vaginal pH (4.4 +/- 0.4) relative to the lactobacilli-negative population (5.2 +/- 0.3) (P = 0.02).Conclusions: We conclude that women on ERT are less likely to have vaginal colonization with anaerobic bacteria when compared with women not using replacement therapy. Estrogen replacement may potentiate the effect of lactobacilli on vaginal pH.     

Vaginal absorption of two estriol preparations. A comparative study in postmenopausal women

In a comparative randomized cross-over study the absorption of a single dose of 0.5 mg estriol from a vaginal cream or a vaginal suppository (OvestinR, Organon, The Netherlands) was studied. Eight healthy postmenopausal women participated and the preparations were given with an interval of 14 days. Blood sampling was performed twice before application and then after 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 24 and 48 hours. Serum was analysed for unconjugated and conjugated estriol (E3), FSH and LH by radio-immunoassay. Considerable interindividual variations in serum levels of unconjugated E3 were found but mean values were about equal throughout the study for the two preparations. Peak levels of 0.5-0.6 nmol/l were achieved 1-2 hours after application of the preparations and after 24 hours no unconjugated E3 was measurable. Conjugated E3 rose rapidly but within 48 hours serum concentrations reached baseline levels. A maximum decrease in serum LH levels of about 40% was obtained with both preparations after 6 hours and the return to baseline within 24 hours indicates a relationship to unconjugated E3. FSH in serum was maximally suppressed 6-12%. Estriol is thus readily absorbed by the vaginal route and peak levels of unconjugated E3 after insertion of 0.5 mg estriol seem to be comparable to those obtained after 8-12 mg estriol given orally.     

Pelvic floor dysfunction in women after pelvic trauma

The aim was to assess symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction in women following pelvic trauma. A retrospective questionnaire survey of 24 consecutive women was performed in a tertiary referral orthopaedic centre and urogynaecology unit. Sixteen women had a type B and eight a type C pelvic fracture (Association Osteosynthesis manual classification). The median age was 24 years (11–92). Twenty-one women were nulliparous. Sixteen women reported de novo pelvic floor dysfunction. Bladder symptoms occurred in 12, bowel problems in 11 and sexual dysfunction in 7 of 17 sexually active women. Pelvic fracture seems to be a risk factor for pelvic floor dysfunction.