Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a disabling disorder in women characterized by a loss of pelvic floor support leading to the herniation of the uterus into or through the vagina. POP is a complex problem that likely involves multiple mechanisms, and available therapies are limited. In this issue of the JCI, Budatha et al. explore the dual role carried out by fibulin-5 in facilitating the assembly...

Physiotherapists have treated women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) for many years. The basis for this treatment is the logical application of research evidence for the conservative management of urinary incontinence and anecdotal evidence. However, the past few years have seen an increase in research specific to POP. This paper outlines the journey involved in adding a large randomized contro...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the results of sacrospinous colpopexy surgery associated with anterior colporrhaphy for the treatment of women with post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse. METHODS This prospective study included 20 women with vault prolapse, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q) stage ≥ 2, treated between January 2003 and February 2006, and evaluated in a follow-up revie...

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare histological and biochemical features of the (normal) precervical anterior vaginal wall and the prolapsed anterior vaginal wall of women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). These data were compared to tissue of the precervical anterior vaginal wall of age-matched controls without POP to identify possible intrinsic and acquired effects. STUDY ...

Although surgical management of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is common and often necessary, conservative treatments such as pessaries, pelvic floor muscle training, or both can usually result in symptomatic improvement. When treating patients with POP, health care practitioners should focus primarily on identification and alleviation of POP-related symptoms. It is appropriate to offe...

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common multifactorial condition. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes capable of breaking down various connective tissue elements. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in regulatory areas of MMP-encoding genes can alter their transcription rate, and therefore the possible effect on pelvic floor supporting structures. The insertion of an adenine (A) bas...

The most common problems in urogynecology, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) are, in other words, problems of pelvic organ support. Extended demand for support in pelvic reconstructive surgery has led to the development of both biomaterials and synthetic grafts. The ideal biomaterial should be physically and chemically inert, mechanically strong, noncarcinogenic,...

OBJECTIVES : Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is common with increasing high-quality evidence to guide surgical practice. Yet many important basic questions remain, including the optimal timing for POP surgery, the optimal preoperative evaluation of urinary tract function, and the postoperative outcome assessment. This manuscript reviews traditional surgical approaches for POP. METHODS...