Physiotherapeutic Approach in Enhancing Recovery and Quality of Life After Vaginal Hysterectomy: A Case Report.

Uterine prolapse is a manifestation of pelvic organ prolapse distinguished by the descent of the uterus from its normal anatomical position into the vaginal canal. Vaginal hysterectomy is a surgical intervention performed to excise the uterus via the vaginal canal. Hysterectomy is correlated with various complications; thus, prompt mobilization and engagement in physiotherapy are imperative postoperatively. This is a case report of a 78-year-old female who reported a persistent sensation of something protruding from her vagina over the past two years. Investigations revealed a third-degree uterocervical descent, leading to the decision for a vaginal hysterectomy. Commencing on Day 5 post-surgery, early mobilization and a comprehensive physiotherapeutic regimen were implemented, encompassing breathing exercises, upper limb mobility exercises, core strengthening routines, pelvic floor exercises, and postural correction. Evaluation using the Modified Oxford Pelvic Floor Muscle Contraction Scale, Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ), and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHO-QOL) demonstrated notable improvement. The findings suggest that promoting early mobilization and facilitating the rehabilitation of pelvic musculature, along with core strengthening through physiotherapy, plays a pivotal role in expediting recovery and enhancing the overall quality of life for hysterectomy patients, potentially alleviating difficulties in performing daily activities.

Nationwide assessment of practice variability in the utilization of hysteropexy at laparoscopic apical suspension for uterine prolapse.

BACKGROUND: Although hysteropexy has been used to preserve the uterus during uterine prolapse surgery for a long time, there is a scarcity of data that describe the nationwide patterns of use of this surgical procedure. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the national-level use and characteristics of hysteropexy at the time of laparoscopic apical suspension surgery for uterine prolapse in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample. The study population included 55,608 patients with a diagnosis of uterine prolapse who underwent laparoscopic apical suspension surgery from 2016 to 2019. Patients who had a hysterectomy were assigned to the hysterectomy group, and those who did not have a hysterectomy were assigned to the hysteropexy group. The main outcome was clinical characteristics associated with hysteropexy, assessed using a multivariable binary logistic regression model. A classification tree was further constructed to assess the use pattern of hysteropexy during laparoscopic apical suspension procedures. The secondary outcome was surgical morbidity, including urinary tract injury, intestinal injury, vascular injury, and hemorrhage. RESULTS: A hysteropexy was performed in 6500 (11.7%) patients. In a multivariable analysis, characteristics associated with increased use of a hysteropexy included (1) patient factors, such as older age, Medicare coverage, private insurance, self-pay, and medical comorbidity; (2) pelvic floor dysfunction factor of complete uterine prolapse; and (3) hospital factors, including medium bed capacity center and location in the Southern United States (all P<.05). Conversely, (1) the patient factor of higher household income; (2) gynecologic factors such as uterine myoma, adenomyosis, and benign ovarian pathology; (3) pelvic floor dysfunction factor with stress urinary incontinence; and (4) hospital factors including Midwest and West United States regions and rural setting center were associated with decreased use of a hysteropexy (all P<.05). A classification tree identified a total of 14 use patterns for hysteropexies during laparoscopic apical suspension procedures. The strongest factor that dictated the use of a hysteropexy was the presence or absence of uterine myomas; the rate of hysteropexy use was decreased to 5.6% if myomas were present in comparison with 15% if there were no myomas (P<.001). Second layer factors were adenomyosis and hospital region. Patients who did not have uterine myomas or adenomyosis and who underwent surgery in the Southern United States had the highest rate of undergoing a hysteropexy (22.6%). Across the 14 use patterns, the percentage rate difference between the highest and lowest uptake patterns was 22.0%. Patients who underwent a hysteropexy were less likely to undergo anteroposterior colporrhaphy, posterior colporrhaphy, and sling procedures (all P<.05). Hysteropexy was associated with a decreased risk for measured surgical morbidity (3.0 vs 5.4 per 1000 procedures; adjusted odds ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-0.90). CONCLUSION: The results of these current, real-world practice data suggest that hysteropexies are being performed at the time of ambulatory laparoscopic apical suspension surgery for uterine prolapse. There is substantial variability in the application of hysteropexy based on patient, gynecologic, pelvic floor dysfunction, and hospital factors. Developing clinical practice guidelines to address this emerging surgical practice may be of use.

A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Dubuisson Laparoscopic Lateral Suspension with Laparoscopic Sacropexy for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Short-Term Results.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) is the gold standard for the treatment of apical prolapse, although dissection of the promontory may be challenging. Laparoscopic lateral suspension (LLS) with mesh is an alternative technique for apical repair with similar anatomical and functional outcomes, according to recent studies. The purpose of this study was to compare these operative techniques. METHODS: Women with uterine Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage 2 were enrolled in this prospective study and were randomly allocated to the LLS or LSC group. At the 12-month follow-up, primary measures included both anatomical and functional outcomes. Perioperative parameters and complications were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 93 women were randomized, 48 in the LLS group and 45 in the LSC group, with 2 women lost to follow-up in both groups. LSC anatomic success rates were 81.82% for the apical compartment and 95.22% for the anterior compartment. LLS anatomic success rates for the apical and anterior compartments were 90% and 92.30%, respectively. The mean operative time for LLS was 160.3 min, while for LSC it was 168.3 min. The mean blood loss was 100 mL in both procedures. Conversion to laparotomy was necessary in three women. Mesh erosion was not observed in any of the cases. In terms of the complication, Clavien-Dindo grade 1 was observed in two patients in the LLS group and a complication rated grade 3b was observed in one patient in LSC group. CONCLUSIONS: LLS is a good alternative to LSC, with promising anatomical and quality-of-life results.

A case of pyelonephritis due to ureteral obstruction caused by complete uterine prolapse.

We present the case of a patient with pyelonephritis secondary to urinary tract obstruction caused by uterine prolapse. An 80-year-old woman with uterine prolapse (pelvic organ prolapse stage 4) was treated with a pessary at an outside hospital due to her high perioperative risk. However, the pessary prolapsed. The patient developed pyelonephritis with hydronephrosis. A pessary was inserted to resolve the blockage of the urinary tract, antibiotic treatment was initiated, and the patient's condition improved. A total vaginal hysterectomy was ultimately performed. Challenges remain in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse stage 4 for which a pessary cannot be used.

Clinician perspectives on hysterectomy versus uterine preservation in pelvic organ prolapse surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous reviews on hysterectomy versus uterine-sparing surgery in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair did not consider that the open abdominal approach or transvaginal mesh use have been largely abandoned. OBJECTIVES: To provide up-to-date evidence by examining only studies investigating techniques currently in use for POP repair. SEARCH STRATEGY: MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched from inception to January 2023. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized and non-randomized studies comparing surgical procedures for POP with or without concomitant hysterectomy. Studies describing open abdominal approaches or transvaginal mesh implantation were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: A random effect meta-analysis was conducted on extracted data reporting pooled mean differences and odds ratios (OR) between groups with 95% confidence intervals (CI). MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-eight studies were included. Hysterectomy and uterine-sparing procedures did not differ in reoperation rate (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.74-1.17), intraoperative major (OR 1.34; 95% CI 0.79-2.26) and minor (OR 1.38; 95% CI 0.79-2.4) complications, postoperative major (OR 1.42; 95% CI 0.85-2.37) and minor (OR 1.18; 95% CI 0.9-1.53) complications, and objective (OR 1.38; 95% CI 0.92-2.07) or subjective (OR 1.23; 95% CI 0.8-1.88) success. Uterine preservation was associated with a shorter operative time (-22.7 min; 95% CI -16.92 to -28.51 min), shorter hospital stay (-0.35 days, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.65 days), and less blood loss (-61.7 mL; 95% CI -31.3 to -92.1 mL). When only studies using a laparoscopic approach for both arms were considered, no differences were observed in investigated outcomes between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: No major differences were observed in POP outcomes between procedures with and without concomitant hysterectomy. The decision to preserve or remove the uterus should be tailored on individual factors.

Effect of different surgical techniques on postoperative wound infection in patients with uterine prolapse: A meta-analysis.

The assumption is that a number of controlled trials have been conducted to assess the impact of uterus retaining or hysterectomy on wound and haemorrhage, but there is no indication as to which method would be more beneficial for wound healing. This research is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the availability of wound healing in case studies of both operative methods. From inception to October 2023, four databases were reviewed. The odds ratio (OR) and the mean difference (MD) for both groups were computed with a random effect model, as well as the corresponding 95% confidence intervals. A total of five studies were carried out in the overall design and enrolled 16 972 patients. No statistical significance was found in the rate of postoperative wound infection among the two treatments (OR,1.46; 95% CI,0.66,3.22 p = 0.35); The rates of bleeding after surgery did not differ significantly from one procedure to another (OR,1.41; 95% CI,0.91,2.17 p = 0.12); two studies demonstrated no statistical significance for the rate of incisional hernia after surgery (OR,2.58; 95% CI,0.37,18.05 p = 0.34). Our findings indicate that there is a similar risk between uterine preservation and hysterectomies for the incidence of wound infection, haemorrhage and protrusion of incision.

Is the Presence of Levator Ani Muscle Avulsion Relevant for the Diagnosis of Uterine Prolapse?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the addition of the assessment of levator ani muscle (LAM) avulsion to the measurement of the difference in the pubis-uterine fundus distance between rest and with the Valsalva maneuver could increase the diagnostic capacity of ultrasound for uterine prolapse (UP). METHODS: This multicenter, observational and prospective study included 145 patients. Ultrasound assessment was performed, establishing the diagnosis of UP as a difference between the pubic-uterine fundus distance at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver ≥15 mm (standard technique), while LAM avulsion was defined as an abnormal LAM insertion in three central slices using multislice ultrasound. A binary multivariate logistic regression model was made using nonautomated methods to predict surgical UP (general population, premenopausal, and postmenopausal patients), including the difference between the pubis-uterine fundus distance at rest and with the Valsalva maneuver as well as LAM avulsion. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients completed the study. The addition of LAM avulsion criteria to the standard dynamic distance-based protocol for the diagnosis of UP resulted in a higher sensitivity for the general population (79.7 vs 68.1%) as well as for premenopausal (89.3 vs 79.9%) and postmenopausal patients (76 vs 66.1%). In contrast, the standard technique showed a higher specificity than the model based on the standard technique associated with LAM avulsion for the general population (89.2 vs 74.3%) and premenopausal women (91.7 vs 63.2%). For postmenopausal patients, the model based on the standard technique associated with LAM avulsion had a higher sensitivity (76 vs 66.1%) and specificity (91.7 vs 86.8%) than the ultrasound diagnosis of UP. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the assessment of LAM avulsion in the ultrasound diagnosis of UP is useful in postmenopausal patients, increasing sensitivity and specificity relative to the ultrasound assessment based only on the difference between the pubis-uterine fundus distance at rest and with the Valsalva maneuver.

Uterine prolapse in a non-pregnant bitch.

A ten-year-old mixed breed bitch was presented for a tissue prolapse protruding from her vulva. Following detailed examination and stabilization, the ovaries and uterine horns were removed by laparotomy, whereas the prolapsed tissue identified as uterus including cervix was removed vaginally. Histology confirmed uterine prolapse, a rare condition in bitches usually found shortly after birth especially due to dystocia. In contrast, the present case was found in a nulliparous non-pregnant bitch. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, including microbiological and histological findings, are described and discussed critically.

Xanthogranulomatous Endometritis with calculus formation in setting of prolapsed uterus.

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is a rare benign inflammatory lesion characterized by sheets of lipid-laden foamy histiocytes. It has been reported in various organs, mainly the kidney and gall bladder. Xanthogranulomatous endometritis (XGE) is sporadic, with only a few cases reported in the English medical literature. Herein, we report a case of xanthogranulomatous endometritis with the formation of stones in a 50-year-old female patient with a prolapsed uterus. Grossly the endometrium was irregular, and the uterine cavity was filled with a yellow friable material, a polypoid growth, and yellowish stones. The microscopy showed sheets of histiocytes with few preserved endometrial glands. In this case, the xanthogranulomatous inflammation may mimic a clear cell carcinoma involving the endometrium and myometrium. One of the important differential diagnoses is malakoplakia. Immunohistochemistry and special stains are helpful in diagnosis.

Modified Vaginal Mesh Procedure with DynaMesh®-PR4 for the Treatment of Anterior/Apical Vaginal Prolapse.

(1) Background: Treating female pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is challenging. Surgical meshes have been used in transvaginal surgeries since the 1990s, but complications such as mesh exposure and infection have been reported. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) mesh, known for its stability and non-reactive properties, has shown promise in urogynecological surgeries. (2) Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 27 patients who underwent a modified PVDF vaginal mesh repair procedure using DynaMesh®-PR4 and combined trans-obturator and sacrospinous fixation techniques. Additional surgeries were performed as needed. (3) Results: The mean operation time was 56.7 min, and the mean blood loss was 66.7 mL. The average hospitalization period was 4.2 days with Foley catheter removal after 2 days. Patients experienced lower pain scores from the day of the operation to the following day. Postoperative follow-up revealed that 85.2% of patients achieved anatomic success, with 14.8% experiencing recurrent stage II cystocele. No recurrence of apical prolapse was observed. Complications were rare, with one case (3.7%) of asymptomatic mesh protrusion. (4) Conclusions: The modified vaginal mesh procedure using DynaMesh®-PR4 showed favorable outcomes with a short operation time, low recurrence rate, rare complications, and improved functional outcomes. This surgical option could be considered for anterior and apical pelvic organ prolapse in women.

Comparison of High Uterosacral and Sacrospinous Ligament Suspension Surgeries for the Treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Women.

Background: Pelvic floor disorders include urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic floor prolapse, which are common complaints in women. Patients that suffer from uterine prolapse could benefit from surgical procedures that stabilize pelvic ligaments. Here, we aimed to compare the high uterosacral and sacrospinous ligament suspension surgeries. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was performed in 2019-2021 on 64 women with uterine prolapse. Demographic data of the patients, including age, body mass index (BMI), past medical diseases, history of delivery, type of delivery, and duration of hospitalization, were collected. We assessed their urinary symptoms, prolapse degree, and sexual symptoms using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) questionnaires before surgical interventions. Patients were divided into two groups undergoing high uterosacral and sacrospinous ligament suspension. They were followed up 6 and 12 months after surgeries. Results: Patients treated with sacrospinous ligament suspension had higher frequencies of surgical complications (P = 0.039), and the most common complication was low back pain (15.6%). The uterine prolapse andC point degree improved significantly in all cases after 6 and 12 months (P < 0.001). The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantifications System (POP-Q) scores improved significantly in both groups 6 and 12 months after surgery (P < 0.001), and patients who underwent sacrospinous ligament suspension had significantly lower pain intensity compared to the other group (P = 0.003). FSFI scores improved significantly in patients treated in both groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Both high uterosacral and sacrospinous ligament suspension techniques significantly improved pain, uterine prolapse, and C point degree.

Unattended uterine prolapse during pregnancy in a low-income setting: a case report.

Uterine prolapse (UP) is rare during pregnancy. It sometimes leads to serious complications such as abortion, preterm labor, and maternal death. The main risk factor for UP is previous vaginal childbirth and is usually managed conservatively. However, surgery should be considered in cases of unavailability or failure of conservative approaches. Case presentation: A 34-year-old Gravid4Para3 pregnant woman in the 33rd week of gestation presented with refractory vaginal pain. She had a remarkable history of second-degree UP. Upon presentation, the anterior and posterior cervical lips were swollen, bluish, and protruding through the vagina. Considering the severe pain, the alarming examination findings, and the impossibility of pushing back the protruding mass, a total vaginal hysterectomy was performed. The postoperative pathological study revealed a massive hemorrhage with edematous changes in the vaginal cuff and cervical mucosa in addition to features of placenta accreta, placenta previa, and placenta abruption. Conclusions: UP is a rare but potentially serious condition, especially if it is related to pregnancy. Moreover, managing UP could be challenging in low-income settings, where even simple conservative methods might be unavailable or financially unattainable.

Is It Possible to Diagnose Surgical Uterine Prolapse With Transperineal Ultrasound? Multicenter Validation of Diagnostic Software.

OBJECTIVES: To validate an ultrasound software that uses transperineal ultrasound to diagnose uterine prolapse (UP). METHODS: Multicenter, observational and prospective study with 155 patients that had indications for surgical intervention for dysfunctional pelvic floor pathology. Each patient underwent an examination with Pozzi tenaculum forceps was performed in the operating room with the patient anesthetized, followed by surgical correction of stages II-IV UP. Transperineal ultrasound was used to assess the difference in the pubis-uterine fundus measurement. With a multivariate logistic regression binary model (with the measurement ultrasound at rest, the Valsalva maneuver and age) using nonautomated methods to predict UP. With the purpose of evaluating the model, a table with coordinates of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, after which sensitivity and specificity were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 153 patients were included (73 with a diagnosis of surgical UP). It was obtained from the AUC (0.89) of the probabilities predicted by the model (95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.95; P < .0005). Based on the ROC curve for the model, obtaining a sensitivity of 91.8% and a specificity of 72.7%, values that were superior to those for the clinical exam for surgical UP (sensitivity: 80.8%; specificity: 71.3%). CONCLUSIONS: We validated software that uses transperineal ultrasound of the pelvic floor and patient age to generate a more reliable diagnosis of surgical UP than that obtained from clinical examinations.

The Surgical Management of Large Bladder Calculi and Irreducible Uterine Prolapse: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Bladder calculi are rare in women. We report a case of bladder calculi complicating irreducible uterovaginal prolapse. It provides diagnostic and operative challenges to the management team. A 77-year-old woman presented with irreducible complete uterovaginal prolapse. Bladder stones were appreciated on examination and confirmed with imaging. The patient was managed surgically with transabdominal hysterectomy with bilateral uterosacral colpopexy followed by cystolithotomy. The patient's postoperative course was uncomplicated, and she had an uneventful recovery at her 3-month postoperative visit without a recurrence of prolapse and gained good continence. The presence of bladder calculi should be considered in the setting of irreducible pelvic organ prolapse. The abdominal approach of cystolithotomy with a concomitant hysterectomy and vaginal apical suspension is safe and effective.

Total uterine prolapse: a rare cause of chronic obstructive uropathy associated with renal dysfunction (a case report).

Pelvic organ prolapse is rarely associated with severe bilateral ureteral hydronephrosis and renal dysfunction. The etiopathogenetic mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Contemporary imaging methods of the urinary tract play a decisive role in assessing the morphological function of the kidneys. In cases of moderate and severe pelvic organ prolapse, surgery appears to be the main choice of treatment. Our case concerns a post-menopausal patient with three vaginal deliveries in her obstetric history and with a history of bilateral hydronephrosis and impaired renal function who was referred to the outpatient clinic for a gynecological examination due to complete uterine prolapse. Bilateral hydroureteronephrosis due to prolapse was assessed as the main cause of renal dysfunction. A surgical intervention was decided to the pelvic floor and a vaginal hysterectomy was performed with simultaneous correction of the cystocele and rectocele. The postoperative course was uneventful. Three months later, re-examination of the urinary tract showed complete remediation of kidney morphology and function. The present case report emphasizes the significant degree of bilateral hydroureteronephrosis and deterioration of renal function rarely seen in patients with complete uterine prolapse. At the same time, it is pointed out that the exclusion of renal dysfunction related to complete uterine prolapse should be the main concern of the modern gynecologist even for complex cases with coexisting etiological factors for renal disease, in order to avoid permanent renal parenchymal damage and ensure the best health and quality of life of these patients.

From thigh to pelvis: female genital prolapse repair with an autologous semitendinosus tendon transplant : Data of the German multicenter trial.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The use of synthetic mesh for prolapse and incontinence surgery is discussed controversially and in several countries is either no longer used or permissible. Previous approaches with autologous tissue did not show from a patient´s perspective convincing long-term results. As there have been repeatedly significant complications with synthetic mesh, a new approach is urgently needed. During orthopedics and trauma surgeries, tendons from the thigh have been used for decades to replace cruciate ligament. The procedure of tendon removal from the thigh is fast, easy to learn and morbidity is low. In addition, a long-term durability of the transplant ought to be expected. The objective of this investigation was to show our experience with a semitendinosus tendon instead of a mesh for genital prolapse repair. METHOD: After the first successful attempts using such tendons in cervicosacropexy and pectopexy in patients with genital prolapse, we initiated a national multicenter study in 2020. Five German hospitals participated in order to determine the feasibility of cervicosacropexy with tendon tissue instead of mesh. RESULT: Up until now, we have operated and observed 113 patients for at least 6 months and have seen stable results in terms of fixation of the apical compartment. The expected low morbidity at the donor site was also confirmed through subjective assessment of the patients (Knee and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score). Improvement of quality of life was confirmed after the procedure with the Short Form Health Survey 12, Version 2.0. The results of this multicenter study showed that the desired elevation of the apical compartment with tendon tissue can be achieved with low morbidity and without a synthetic mesh. CONCLUSION: Women with uterine prolapse can be treated minimally invasively and with very low morbidity by using the semitendinosus tendon. The involvement of multiple (five) medical centers confirms that the technique is easy to learn and be transferred to other clinical centers.

Identification of Surgical Uterine Prolapse in Premenopausal Patients With Clinical or Ultrasound Criteria? A Multicenter Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVES: It is unknown whether diagnosing uterine prolapse (UP) via ultrasound or surgical criteria is superior. Our objective is to determine whether the diagnostic capacity of ultrasound with surgical criteria differs from that of surgical criteria only. METHODS: This was a multicenter prospective observational study with 54 premenopausal patients with surgical criteria for a dysfunctional pelvic floor pathology who were consecutively recruited for 1 year. Clinical UP with surgical criteria was defined when UP stage II-IV was identified (during pelvic floor consultation), and UP diagnosed by ultrasound with surgical criteria was established when a difference ≥15 mm was found between rest and Valsalva applied to the pubis-uterine fundus. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were determined to evaluate clinical and ultrasound methodologies as diagnostic tests. RESULTS: UP diagnosed by ultrasound with surgical criteria presented better sensitivity (78.57 vs 35.71%), specificity (92.11 vs 81.58%), positive predictive value (61.83 vs 23.99%), and negative predictive value (96.35 vs 11.37%) than UP diagnosed by surgical criteria only. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound with surgical criteria is superior to surgical criteria alone when diagnosing UP.

What women want now!

IMPORTANCE: Stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse are common conditions affecting women with many different conservative and surgical treatment options available for women. OBJECTIVES: Our primary aim was to determine patient views and preferences surrounding theoretical potential future treatment options for pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD): pelvic organ prolapse/SUI and determine what level of success patients would find acceptable and see if their choice was dependent on severity of their symptoms. All patients had either just completed or were about to start a course of 3 months physiotherapy. All patients with overactive bladder symptoms were excluded. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an service evaluation study of 100 consecutive women attending our urogynaecology clinic. Patients attending clinic completed a questionnaire. They were asked to choose a preferred treatment between "Option A": A surgical procedure which had an 80% success rate in curing symptoms but would require 1-2 day hospital stay and carry a small risk of complications. Or "Option B": A hypothetical course of outpatient, non-surgical treatments which would have a variable chance of improving (but not curing) symptoms (ranging from 70%, 50% or 25% chance of improvement) but would require no "down-time" and have no long term safety issues. RESULTS: Our results showed 100% of women with severe PFD would chose a surgical procedure. However those with mild/moderate symptoms would prefer a non-surgical treatment (if one were available) which may only improve their symptoms but had no long-term complications. There was a moderate correlation (r = 0.46) between severity of symptoms and chance of success. CONCLUSIONS: This study is important as it highlights a change in patient demand from one of highest efficacy to possibly one with the greatest safety profile and quickest recovery time. Newer treatment technologies such as energy-based devices (radiofrequency, laser and magnetic therapy) have shown to have lower success rates but may be favourable for some women. This supports the need for further research in these areas.