Quality of Life after Treatment for Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Real-World Study: Recommendations, Vaginal Pessary, and Surgery.

Background and Objectives: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition in women, with its prevalence increasing with age, and can significantly impact the quality of life (QOL) of many individuals. The objective of this study was to assess the overall improvement, quality of life, and continuation of primary treatment for POP over a 24-month period in a real-world setting. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, observational, follow-up study of women with symptomatic POP who, as a primary treatment, opted for recommendations (lifestyle changes and pelvic floor muscle training), pessary therapy, or surgery. The primary outcome measure was a subjective improvement at the 24-month follow-up, measured with the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale. Secondary outcome measures were the continuation rate of the primary treatment method, reason for discontinuation, and the quality of life evaluated with the P-QoL questionnaire. Results: We included 137 women, with 45 women (32.8%) in the recommendations group, 39 (28.5%) in the pessary group, and 53 women (38.7%) in the surgery group. After 24 months, surgery, in comparison with pessary treatment and recommendations, resulted in significantly more women reporting a subjective improvement: 89.6%, 66.7%, and 22.9% (p < 0.001), respectively. Overall, 52% of women from the recommendations group and 36.4% from the pessary group switched to another treatment or discontinued the primary treatment within 24 months. However, women who continued the primary treatment, pessary use, and surgery showed similar subjective improvements (90.5% and 89.6%, respectively) and quality-of-life improvement. Conclusions: The chance of significant improvement was higher following surgery. However, after 24 months, both vaginal pessaries and surgery showed an important quality-of life improvement and can be proposed as primary treatment methods for pelvic organ prolapse.

Validation of the Russian Version of the Prolapse Quality-of-life Questionnaire and its Application to Assess the Impact of Pelvic Organ Prolapse on Quality of Life and the Effect of Treatment in Women Undergoing Reconstructive Surgery.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to validate the translated Russian version of the prolapse quality-of-life (P-QoL) questionnaire and test its applicability to assess the impact of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) on QoL and the effect of treatment in women undergoing reconstructive surgery. METHODS: Following a forward- and back-translation of the original English P-QOL questionnaire into Russian, the translated questionnaire was reviewed by a group of patients as well as an expert panel. Women with POP who were admitted to a university hospital for reconstructive surgery were recruited. All the women completed the P-QoL questionnaire, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) questionnaires before surgery. Clinical data and POP Quantification (POP-Q) Index according to the International Continence Society were obtained. Psychometric properties of the questionnaire were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 303 women with POP were included in the study. Most patients presented with POP-Q >2. The P-QoL questionnaire demonstrated good psychometric properties. High internal consistency was shown in all domains (Cronbach's alpha coefficient from 0.65 to 0.92). The test-retest reliability confirmed a highly significant stability between the total scores for each domain. Significant correlations of the P-QoL domains with the PFDI-20 and SF-36 scales (p < 0.05) were obtained, demonstrating satisfactory convergent validity. Discriminative construct validity was proved by the differences in the mean scores for P-QoL domains across POP-Q stages (p < 0.05): general health perceptions, role limitations, physical limitations, social limitations and severity measures were significantly higher for POP-Q stages 3 and 4 than for POP-Q stage 2 (p < 0.01); general health perceptions and severity measures were higher for POP-Q stage 4 than for POP-Q stage 3 (p < 0.05); sleep/energy was higher for POP-Q stage 3 than for POP-Q stage 2 (p < 0.05). Significant improvement of QoL in the 2 months after surgery (p < 0.05) indicated that the P-QoL questionnaire is sensitive to change. CONCLUSIONS: The Russian version of the P-QoL questionnaire is characterized by appropriate psychometric properties. The P-QoL questionnaire is a useful tool for describing the QoL profile in women with POP before reconstructive surgery and evaluating treatment outcomes after the procedure.

Pelvic Floor Disorders Among Minority Women: Differences in Prevalence, Severity and Health-Related Social Needs.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize prevalence and severity of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) in various health care settings and to examine unmet health-related social needs (HRSN) among minority women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Minority women with PFDs were recruited from our academic urogynecology clinic, a general urology clinic at our institution's safety net hospital, and a community outreach mobile clinic. Questions from the Urinary Distress Index-6, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6, and Female Genitourinary Pain Index were used to identify patients with stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder (OAB), and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). RESULTS: Sixty-one (46.6%) women identified as Hispanic, 53 (40.4%) as Black, and 17 (12.9%) as Other. Overall, self-reported PFDs included stress urinary incontinence in 45%, OAB in 74.8%, and CPPS in 24.4% of women. Hispanic women were more likely to report OAB symptoms, compared to Black women (odds ratio (OR) 3.4 [1.2-10.2], P = .03) or Other women (OR = 5.1 [1.3-20.4], P = .02). Participants held a median of 5 unmet HRSN. Minority women facing issues with family and community support, transportation, and utilities were more likely to report CPPS symptoms, compared to those without psychosocial issues (support OR: 4.8 [1.7-13.7], P = .002; transportation OR: 2.0 [1.0-8.2], P = .05; utility OR: 7.0 [1.9-28.1], P = .005). CONCLUSION: Minority women with PFDs may have several unmet HRSNs which impact their ability to receive appropriate medical care. Our findings may assist in the development of effective strategies to improve health care outcomes for women dealing with PFDs.

Pelvic organ prolapse: Women's experiences of Accessing Care & Recommendations for improvement.

Up to 50% of women will develop pelvic organ prolapse (POP) over their lifetime. Symptoms include pain, bulge, urinary, bowel and sexual symptoms affecting all aspects of a woman's life.Many women with POP symptoms present initially to primary care settings. Research has shown these interactions are often unsatisfactory, with women reporting their health care professional (HCP) trivialized their symptoms or appeared to have poor knowledge about pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD).Aim The aim of this qualitative study was to explore experiences of younger women seeking treatment for POP and their recommendations for improvements.Methods Ethics approval was obtained (LS-21-01-Carroll-Ful). Women with POP were recruited from an online support group (n = 930 members). Inclusion criteria: adult women, diagnosed with POP and aware of their POP stage. Following informed consent, a demographic questionnaire, interview questions and the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) were forwarded. Semi-structured zoom audio-recorded interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was undertaken; transcripts coded, and themes identified.Results Fourteen women aged 32-41, parity 1-3, with POP Grade 1-3 participated. Many women reported HCPs as dismissive or not appreciative of the impact of their condition. Others described interactions with HCPs who they felt listened, understood the impact of their POP, gave simple explanations, a positive prognosis and outlined a realistic treatment plan.Current antenatal education, post-partum care and primary HCP screening for PFD were identified by women as deficient. Many highlighted delays in accessing specialist care for POP. Women made several recommendations for improvements to the current model of care.Conclusions Increased focus on person-centred care, particularly emotional support, information and education may improve younger women's experiences when seeking care for POP.

Relationship Involving Sexual Function, Distress Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, and Female Genital Self-Image.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship involving sexual function (SF), the distress symptoms caused by pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), and female genital self-image (GSI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed the GSI, SF and PFD distress symptoms by the Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) respectively. Data were analyzed by multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Among the 216 women (age: 50.92 ± 16.31 years) who participated in the study, 114 were sexually active in the previous 4 weeks. In the total sample (p < 0.001; adjusted R2 = 0.097) and among sexually active women (p = 0.010; adjusted R2 = 0.162), the distress symptoms caused by pelvic organ prolapse (POP) were related to the GSI. Among sexually active women, sexual desire also was related to the GSI (p < 0.001; adjusted R2 = 0.126). CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study provide additional knowledge about female GSI and suggest that SF and POP distress symptoms should be investigated together with the GSI in the clinical practice.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a relação entre a função sexual (FS), o incômodo provocado pelos sintomas de disfunção do assoalho pélvico (DAP) e a autoimagem genital (AIG) feminina. MATERIAIS E MéTODOS: A AIG, a FS e incômodo causado pelos sintomas de DAP foram avaliados pela Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS), pelo Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) e pelo Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), respectivamente. Os dados foram analisados por regressão linear múltipla. RESULTADOS: Das 216 mulheres (idade: 50,92 ± 16,31 anos) que participaram do estudo, 114 eram sexualmente ativas nas últimas 4 semanas. Na amostra total (p < 0,001; R2 ajustado = 0,097) e entre as mulheres sexualmente ativas (p = 0,010; R2 ajustado = 0,162), o incômodo provocado pelos sintomas de prolapso de órgãos pélvicos (POP) relacionou-se à AIG. Entre as mulheres sexualmente ativas, o desejo sexual também se relacionou à AIG (p < 0,001; R2 ajustado = 0,126). CONCLUSãO: Os achados deste estudo fornecem conhecimento adicional sobre a AIG feminina e sugerem que a FS e o incômodo causado pelos sintomas de POP devem ser investigados juntamente com a AIG na prática clínica.

Pelvic organ prolapse after delivery: effects on sexual function, quality of life, and psychological health.

BACKGROUND: Living with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) after delivery negatively impacted women's daily living and was detrimental to their psychological health. AIM: The purpose of the present study was to explore the effects of POP after delivery on women's sexual function, quality of life (QoL), and psychological health within the first year following delivery. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 640 female participants at obstetric clinic in 2 hospitals in Shenzhen, China. OUTCOMES: All women completed following questionnaires: short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) on sexual function, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20) on well-being and QoL, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) on psychological health, and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form. RESULTS: Women with symptomatic POP (N = 250) had higher mean scores (P < .05) than those without symptoms (N = 390) in PISQ-12, PFDI-20, and SCL-90-R domains. In the symptomatic POP group (N = 250), the sexually dysfunctional group (N = 137) had significantly higher mean scores (P < .001) than the sexually functional group (N = 113) in PISQ-12, PFDI-20, and SCL-90-R domains. Women with POP duration ≥6 months (N = 132) had significantly higher mean scores (P < .001) than women with POP duration <6 months (N = 118) in PISQ-12, PFDI-20, and SCL-90-R domains. The multiple linear regression model of PISQ-12 showed that constipation history, regular pelvic floor muscle training, parity, and symptomatic POP were independently correlated with the questionnaire score (P < .05). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The significantly pervasive nature of POP often leads to the neglect of a substantial percentage of sexual problems and related emotional suffering, emphasizing the critical importance of raising awareness about this issue among clinicians and the general public. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The current study brought attention to significant aspects of postpartum POP; the findings suggest issues concerning POP occurrences and their impacts on sexual function, QoL, and psychological health. Primary constraints are linked to the utilization of self-report assessments. CONCLUSION: The current study reveals a robust correlation between POP in postpartum women and compromised sexual function, QoL, and psychological health.

Bearing the burden of spill-over effects: Living with a woman affected by symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse after vaginal birth - from a partner's perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (sPOP) can have a negative impact on a woman's health. While research exists about the impact of sPOP on women, little is known about the effect on their partners. Therefore, this study aimed to explore, from the partner's perspective, what it means to live with a woman with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse after vaginal birth. METHODS: A qualitative explorative design with a constructed grounded theory approach was taken to analyse the interviews of 13 partners who experienced living with a woman who had sPOP after vaginal birth. RESULTS: "The theory of bearing the burden of spill-over effects" was constructed based on a core category: "Facing a new restricted life", with related categories "Giving up valued activities"; "Struggling with added demands"; "Changing intimate behaviour" and "Redefining future family planning". The theory also contains factors constraining and enabling adjustment to the new reality. While the shortcomings of healthcare constrained the process of adjustment, getting competent treatment and the feeling of love for the family enabled it. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that women's sPOP had an apparently negative impact on partners' health behaviours, sexual health, relationship harmony, and psychological well-being. The partners indicated they were unprepared for post-birth adversities and distressed by the lack of treatment options. There is a need to develop prenatal information highlighting the potential risks of sPOP which may be accompanied by levator ani muscle injury, implement guidelines for the prevention and management of these conditions, and offer targeted support to partners if needed.

Quality of life and its associated factors among women diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse in Gynecology outpatient department Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples region public referral hospitals, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic organ prolapse is an important public health issue that influences millions of women's lives; through limitations on physical, social, and sexual activities as well as psychological distress. However, there were no reports on the quality of life for women with pelvic organ prolapse in Ethiopia. Therefore this study amid to assess the magnitude of quality of life and its associated factors among women who diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse in Gynecology outpatient departments in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples region public referral hospitals; Ethiopia. METHOD: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples region of public referral hospitals from May 1-July 4, 2022 among 419 diagnosed women with pelvic organ prolapse. A validated tool was used to collect the data. The collected data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was computed. The p-value of < 0.05 was used to declare the final statistical significance. RESULT: A total of 409 women with pelvic organ prolapse were included in the study, giving a response rate of 97.6%. The overall poor quality of life was 57.5%. Regarding the quality of life domains; personal relationships (73.6%), were highly affected, and sleep/energy (24.2%) was the least affected domain. Stage III/IV prolapse (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.34, 4.74), menopause (AOR = 3.21, 95% CI 1.75, 5.97), unmarried women (widowed, divorced) (AOR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.48, 5.32), and longer duration of prolapse (AOR = 5.8, 95% CI: 3.13, 10.81), were significantly associated with poor quality of life. CONCLUSION: More than half of women with pelvic organ prolapse had a poor quality of life. Stage III/IV prolapse, longer duration of prolapse, menopause women, and unmarried women are statistically significant factors for the quality of life of women with Pelvic organ prolapse.

Women's attitudes towards pessary self-care: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Patients with vaginal pessaries can learn to care for their pessary by themselves or they can have provider-led care, which requires more frequent follow-up visits. We aimed to understand motivations for and barriers to learning self-care of a pessary to inform strategies to promote pessary self-care. METHODS: In this qualitative study, we recruited patients recently fitted with a pessary for stress incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, and providers who perform pessary fittings. Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were completed to data saturation. A constructivist approach to thematic analysis using the constant comparison method was used to analyze interviews. A coding frame was created following independent review of a subset of interviews by three members of the research team and this frame was used to code interviews and develop themes through interpretive engagement with the data. RESULTS: Ten pessary users and four health care providers (physicians and nurses) participated. Three major themes were identified: motivators, benefits, and barriers. There were several motivators for learning self-care, including care provider advice, personal hygiene, and ease of care. Benefits of learning self-care included autonomy, convenience, facilitation of sexual relations, avoidance of complications, and decreased burden on the health care system. Barriers to self-care included physical, structural, mental, and emotional barriers; lack of knowledge; lack of time; and social taboo. CONCLUSIONS: Promotion of pessary self-care should focus on patient education about benefits and ways of mitigating common barriers while focusing on normalizing patient engagement in pessary self-care.

Cognitive function following surgery for pelvic organ prolapse.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Older women are at higher risk for cognitive dysfunction following surgery. We hypothesized that for women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery, memory function would not be significantly different at delayed postoperative assessment compared to baseline. OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare performance on tests of various neurocognitive domains before and after surgery for POP. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted with women, aged 60 years and older who were undergoing surgery for POP. A battery of highly sensitive neurocognitive tests was administered preoperatively (baseline), on postoperative day 1 (postoperative visit 1, POV1), and at the first postoperative clinic visit 4-6 weeks after surgery (postoperative visit 2, POV2). The test battery included the scene-encoding memory task, the n-back task, the Iowa gambling task, the balloon analogue risk task, and the psychomotor vigilance task. These tests assessed the neurocognitive subdomains of episodic memory, working memory, decision-making, risk-taking, and sustained attention. Two score comparisons were made: between baseline and POV1, and between baseline and POV2. RESULTS: In 29 women, performance on the scene-encoding memory task was worse at POV1 than at baseline (2.22 ± 0.4 vs. 2.45 ± 0.6, p < 0.05) but was better than baseline at POV2 (2.7 ± 0.7 vs. 2.45 ± 0.6, p < 0.05). Similarly, performance on the psychomotor vigilance test was worse at POV1 than at baseline (p < 0.01) but there was no difference at POV2. There was no difference in performance on the Iowa gambling test, n-back test, and balloon analogue risk tasks between baseline and any postoperative visit. CONCLUSION: Cognitive test scores did not worsen significantly between baseline and delayed postoperative assessments in older women undergoing surgery for POP.

A qualitative study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women seeking pelvic organ prolapse surgery in Alberta, Canada.

In addition to altering public infrastructure and social patterning, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed many pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgeries. POP-related stigma, symptomology and the experience of waiting for POP surgery can negatively impact women's quality of life and mental health. The experience of preoperative POP patients during the pandemic thus entails a new intersection of gendered, stigmatic and medical realities. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 preoperative POP patients as part of a larger qualitative study, 20 of whom spontaneously volunteered information about how the pandemic coloured their experience living with and awaiting surgery for POP. Interviews occurred between January and July 2021, which coincided with the second and third waves of the pandemic in Alberta, Canada, and before full immunisation was available for all Albertans. Pandemic-related interview excerpts were thematically analysed, and four main findings emerged. (1) Though surgical delay meant living with unpleasant symptoms for longer than anticipated, some sought this out in order to protect vulnerable loved ones from possible hospital-acquired infection, (2) shifting and unclear hospital policies and logistics resulted in intense preoperative stress, at times causing women to temporarily cease treatment, (3) decreased access to public restroom infrastructure caused women to reduce their outings and (4) the imperative to minimise social gatherings made it easier for women to engage in POP-related, shame-based self-isolation without the notice of friends and family. As they can influence postoperative outcomes and treatment adherence, trends observed should be of interest to clinicians and policymakers alike.

Instruments for assessing sexual dysfunction in Arabic: A systematic literature review.

Sexual health is relevant throughout a person's life; however, studying human sexuality is complex and requires particular care when working with individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds. Much of the research addressing this subject has been conducted in Western countries, and that in non-Western countries is generally based on small sample sizes. The biopsychosocial nature of sexuality and its dysfunctions should be taken into consideration given that it is indispensable when conducting and assessing sexual studies in different countries and cultures. Therefore, culturally sensitive studies that consider cultural contexts and determinants as well as social markers are needed. The topic of sexuality in Arab culture is still enigmatic. This enigma has impacted the advancement of sexual science and limited researchers, health care practitioners, and patients. Thus, the aim of this systematic literature review was to find and assemble all scales and questionnaires regarding human sexual health that have been translated into Arabic and validated in order to promote a critical analysis of the methods used in each instrument and to inform readers and researchers of the limits and potential of each scale. Electronic databases were systematically searched, and eight instruments were selected for inclusion: the Arabic Index of Premature Ejaculation (AIPE), the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), the Arabic Female Sexual Function Index (ArFSFI), the Female Genital Self-Image Scale (AVFGSIS), the Arabic Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), the Egyptian Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-IR), the Saudi Arabian Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire in Arabic (PSIQ-IR), and the Arabic Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS). All included instruments showed good validity and reliability for the target population. Future studies are needed to develop culturally sensitive instruments.

"Broken"-How Identities as Women, Mothers and Partners Are Intertwined with the Experience of Living with and Seeking Treatment for Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) occurs when one or more pelvic organs descend into or through the vaginal opening, significantly impacting physical and mental health. POP affects the female reproductive tract and, overwhelmingly, people who identify as women. However, little research has examined the impact of gendered expectations on women's treatment-seeking for POP and their decision-making around surgery for POP. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 women seeking surgery for POP in Alberta, Canada. Data were analyzed from a gender-based lens, using the Framework Method. Participants reported the need to balance their identities as women, partners, and mothers in their pursuit of treatment and faced many barriers to treatment related to their gendered responsibilities. Findings highlight the gendered experiences of prolapse in the context of healthcare needs and can inform policies and practices which promote more equitable access to prolapse treatment.

Vaginal pessary in advanced pelvic organ prolapse: impact on quality of life.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a highly prevalent dysfunction of the pelvic floor affecting up to 40% of women. The symptoms of POP have a major impact on quality of life. Pessary treatment is a therapy option associated with high levels of satisfaction and few complications. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess the impact and efficacy of vaginal pessary use on the quality of life of women with advanced POP stages III and IV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter, longitudinal, prospective observational study was conducted at the Urogynecology Sector of the Hospital Ipiranga and the Hospital Central of the Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo. A sociodemographic questionnaire was employed and two scales validated in Portuguese (ICIQVS and SF 12) were applied before and 6 months after pessary use. Student´s t test, Mann-Whitney test and Fisher´s exact test were applied, adopting a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The median age of participants was 71.5 (65-76) years and the median number of pregnancies was 4 (3-5). Deliveries were predominantly vaginal (82.5%). Women sexually active (16.49%) showed improvement in sexual function (78.6%). The participants showed improvement in vaginal symptoms (91.8%) and quality of life (92.8%) (p < 0.01) post-treatment. Of the total 97 women, the sample drop-out rate was 9.3% and 88 participants completed the two stages of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal pessary use had 90.7% efficacy, a high level of treatment satisfaction (75.3%), and a positive impact on the improvement of vaginal and sexual symptoms, quality of life, and mental health.

Randomized trial of an enhanced consultation versus standard consultation for prolapse: impact on patient satisfaction.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Optimal counseling techniques for Spanish-speaking patients with low health literacy and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is unknown. We hypothesize that with use of an enhanced consultation (EC) strategy, patient satisfaction with their knowledge of prolapse will improve compared with a standard consultation (SC). METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of an EC vs SC in Spanish-speaking women seeking treatment for POP. In addition to receiving the same SC as the SC group, the EC group received consultation using images from an Interactive Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POPQ) Program and a brief anatomy lesson. Thirty participants per group was calculated to achieve a power of 80% with an alpha of 0.05. The primary outcome was to assess the change in patient satisfaction of prolapse understanding utilizing a visual analog scale. Comparisons between groups were done using Student's t test or Wilcoxon Rank-Sum for continuous variables, Mantel-Haenszel for ordinal variables, and Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients were enrolled and 64 completed the study. There was no difference in the change in satisfaction with disease understanding on a visual analog scale between the EC and SC groups (45.6 vs 51.7, p = 0.623). There were no differences in the change in factual knowledge scores on the prolapse portion of the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire (PIKQ) between the EC and the SC groups (19.6 vs 18.9, p = 0.914). CONCLUSIONS: In Spanish-speaking women, an EC using a 2-D prolapse animation did not increase prolapse knowledge satisfaction of disease understanding compared with an SC.

Generic Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients Seeking Care for Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: Using the American Urogynecologic Society multicenter Pelvic Floor Disorder Registry for Research, we (1) compared generic quality of life (QOL) in women planning pelvic organ prolapse (POP) treatment (surgery vs pessary), (2) correlated generic and condition-specific QOL scores, and (3) identified associations between generic QOL and other factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis assessed generic physical and mental QOL using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Health Scale at baseline. Global Physical and Mental T-scores center on a representative US population sample (mean [SD], 50 [10]; higher scores, better health). Condition-specific QOL was assessed with Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory, Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire, and POP/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire. Linear regression models identified associations between clinical factors and Global Physical/Mental scores. RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-eight women (419 surgery, 149 pessary) were included. Surgery patients were younger, heavier, and more often sexually active (all P's ≤ 0.01). Global Physical scores were lower in the surgery versus pessary group, but not likely clinically meaningful (mean [SD], 48.8 [8.1] vs 50.4 [8.5]; P = 0.035); Global Mental scores were similar (51.4 [8.4] vs 51.9 [9.5], P = 0.56). Global Health scores correlated with Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory, Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire, and POP/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire scores (all P's < 0.0001). In multivariable models, menopause was associated with better physical QOL, and constipation, coronary artery disease, pelvic pain, and increased body mass index with worse physical QOL. Age was associated with better mental QOL, and constipation, fecal incontinence, pelvic pain, and coronary artery disease with worse mental QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Women choosing POP surgery versus pessary had similar physical and mental generic QOL.

[Clinical efficacy and safety of transvaginal pelvic floor reconstruction with TiLOOP mesh].

Objective: To evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of transvaginal pelvic floor reconstruction with TiLOOP mesh, a titanized polypropylene lightweight mesh. Methods: From November 2017 to July 2019, 50 patients underwent surgery, who were with anterior vaginal prolapse stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ and (or) apical prolapse and posterior vaginal prolapse (stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ); 37 patients underwent self-cut TiLOOP mesh and 13 patients underwent pre-cut mesh-kit procedure. The subjective and objective parameters (including surgical success) of them were evaluated. Results: The mean follow-up time was (18±6) months. The overall surgical success rate was 90% (45/50). Prolapse recurrence rates were isolated anterior 2% (1/50), isolated apical 2% (1/50) and isolated posterior 6% (3/50). None of recurrent patients underwent re-treatment, including either surgery or use of a pessary at last follow-up. According to patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I), 46 patients (92%, 46/50) were very much better, and 4 patients (8%, 4/50) were much better. After the operation, pelvic floor distress inventory-short form 20 (PFDI-20) and pelvic floor impact questionnaire-short form 7 (PFIQ-7) scores were significantly lower than those before operation (all P<0.05); pelvic organ prolapse-urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire 12 (PISQ-12) score was no significant difference before and after operation (P>0.05), but without dyspareunia. The vaginal mesh erosion rate was 12% (6/50) and the stress urinary incontinence was observed in 2 cases (4%, 2/47). Conclusion: Transvaginal pelvic floor reconstruction with TiLOOP mesh is a safe and effective surgery, short-term efficacy is acceptable, how to reduce the mesh erosion still need to be explored.

Pelvic floor dysfunction distress is correlated with quality of life, but not with muscle function.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and quality of life (QoL), as well as the function of the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) in women with urinary incontinence (UI). METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted in two centers in Brazil (Northeast and Southeast regions) with women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Data on pelvic floor symptoms, discomfort and impact on QoL were collected using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-short form (PFDI-SF-20) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7) instruments. PFM function was assessed by palpation (PERFECT scale) and manometry. Pearson's correlation test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Student's t test were used to discriminate the differences, adopting a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: A total of 72 women participated in the study (mean age 51.7 ± 11.9 years). The presence and discomfort of pelvic floor symptoms (PFDI-SF-20) were correlated with QoL (PFIQ-7) (r = 0.52, p < 0.001). Deficits in PFM function (power and pressure) were observed, however, there was no correlation between these with the presence and discomfort of the pelvic floor symptoms (PFDI-SF-20). CONCLUSION: Greater discomfort due to PFD symptoms were correlated with a worse QoL. However, the relationship between symptoms and PFM function was not significant. These results reinforce the need to assess the aspects of activity and participation which compose functionality and QoL, and not only the PFM functions in women with UI.

"Beyond the Bump" - Insight Into the Postpartum Women's Experience of Pelvic Organ Prolapse as Expressed on Reddit.

OBJECTIVE: To qualitatively analyze the biopsychological experiences of postpartum women regarding pelvic organ prolapse (POP) as expressed on Reddit, a widely used internet platform for anonymous discussion and information sharing. POP is a prevalent condition in postpartum women, yet personal experiences are often not discussed due to social stigma. METHODS: "Beyondthebump," a Subreddit forum for postpartum mothers with >57,000 subscribers, was queried for "prolapse" to collect postings on POP in August 2018. Posts were analyzed qualitatively by 2 independent researchers. The principles of grounded theory were applied and preliminary themes were generated. These themes were used to derive emergent concepts. RESULTS: We analyzed 28 unique posts with 390 responses from 2014 to 2018. Qualitative analysis yielded 3 preliminary themes. (1) Women were unaware POP could occur postpartum and frustrated by the lack of prenatal discussion. (2) Women expressed a need for supportive, comprehensive, and immediate care. (3) Attributed symptoms of POP included pain and discomfort, causing difficulty with daily life. Three emergent concepts were derived. (1) POP is a difficult, debilitating condition with mental and physical effects. (2) Women with POP were self-driven and actively sought help. (3) There was motivation to increase POP awareness. CONCLUSION: Postpartum women's perspectives on POP focused on the difficulty of continuing life routines, self-drive for improvement, and motivation to raise awareness for others. Through learning from women's self-reported experiences, physicians can better meet women's needs and improve care for POP.

Qualitative Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs About Pessary Use Among Spanish-Speaking Women on the US-Mexico Border.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to pessary use in Spanish-speaking women along the US-Mexico border. METHODS: Spanish-speaking women with symptoms of vaginal bulge were recruited from the urogynecology/gynecology clinics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso to participate in moderated focus groups. Discussion topics included knowledge of prolapse/pessaries, pros/cons of pessaries, alternatives, and prolapse surgery. Audio-recorded group discussions were transcribed verbatim, and qualitative analysis completed by independent review using grounded theory methodology. Common themes were identified and then aggregated to form consensus concepts, agreed upon by the reviewers. RESULTS: Twenty-nine Spanish-speaking women participated in 6 focus group discussions. Approximately half of women reported little or no prior knowledge about pessaries. Three main themes were identified from analysis: knowledge/perceptions, misinformation/misconceptions, and surgery-related concerns. Concepts identified from common themes included limited knowledge of pessaries, confusing "pessary" with "mesh," willingness to try pessaries in order to avoid surgery, desire to try pessary if it was recommended by physician, limited efficacy or complications of surgery, and mesh-related concerns. Interestingly, some women reported that pessaries appear to be a treatment more often offered in the United States rather than in Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: Most participants showed a willingness to try a pessary for symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse in an effort to avoid surgery, despite expressing limited knowledge about this treatment. Physician recommendations and risks of pessary use influence their likelihood of trying a pessary. These concepts serve as focus points for effective pessary counseling to help improve education and informed decision making in this patient population.