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The purpose of this study was to evaluate pelvic organ support during pregnancy and following delivery. This was a prospective observational study. Pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) examinations were performed during each trimester of pregnancy and in the postpartum. Statistical comparisons of POPQ stage and of the nine measurements comprising the POPQ between the different time intervals were made using Wilcoxon's signed rank and the paired t-test. Comparison of POPQ stage by mode of delivery was made using Fisher's exact test. One hundred thirty-five nulliparous women underwent 281 pelvic organ support evaluations. During both the third trimester and postpartum, POPQ stage was significantly higher compared to the first trimester (p<0.001). In the postpartum, POPQ stage was significantly higher in women delivered vaginally compared to women delivered by cesarean (p=0.02). In nulliparous pregnant women, POPQ stage appears to increase during pregnancy and does not change significantly following delivery. In the postpartum, POPQ stage may be higher in women delivered vaginally compared to women delivered by cesarean.

Little is known about the anatomic and physiologic changes in the pelvic floor that occur during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to prospectively document pelvic organ support throughout pregnancy using the standardized system of the International Continence Society, also known as the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POPQ) Staging System. Pelvic organ support evaluations were performed in nulliparous pregnant women presenting for routine obstetric care during each trimester. POPQ stage assignments and POPQ component measurements were compared for first-, second- and third-trimester examinations. Overall POPQ stage was significantly higher in the third trimester than in the first (P=0.001). Individual POPQ points which showed significant differences between the first and third trimesters include Aa, PB, Ap, Ba, Bp, TVL and GH. These findings probably represent normal physiologic changes of the pelvic floor during pregnancy, but suggest that significant changes may be objectively demonstrated prior to delivery.

No abstract

With appropriate pre-implementation training, protocols which incorporate post-delivery vaginal sweep and sponge counts are well accepted by the health care team and can be incorporated into the delivery room routine.