Pelvic organ prolapse in pregnancy is rare. Consequent complications include cervical infection, spontaneous abortion, and premature birth. Conservative management by means of a pessary have been described as improving maternal symptomatology and minimizing gestational risk. The delivery mode is controversial.
To describe the clinical courses of patients diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse during pregnancy, and to present our multidisciplinary approach.
In this retrospective case series, we summarized the obstetrical outcomes of women diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse during pregnancy in a single university-affiliated hospital.
We identified eight women with advanced uterine prolapse at a mean age of 30.3 years. Seven were diagnosed with advanced uterine prolapse (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification [POPQ] stage ≥ 3). All were treated by pessary placement, which was tolerable and provided symptomatic relief. The pessary type was chosen according to the prolapse stage. In women with cervical prolapse POPQ stage > 2 and cervical edema, a support pessary was less beneficial. However, the prolapse was well-controlled with a space-filling Gellhorn pessary. Low complication rates were associated with vaginal deliveries. The few complications that were reported included minor cervical laceration, postpartum hemorrhage, and retained placenta.
Treatment of pelvic organ prolapse during pregnancy must be individualized and requires a multidisciplinary approach of urogynecologists, obstetricians, dietitians, pelvic floor physiotherapists, and social workers. Conservative management, consisting of insertion of a vaginal pessary when prolapse symptoms appeared, provided adequate support for the pelvic floor, improved symptomatology, and minimized pregnancy complications. Vaginal delivery was feasible for most of the women.
The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ. 2024 Sep [Epub]
Raneen Abu Shqara, Maya Frank Wolf, Jawad Karram, Inshirah Sgayer, Ala Aiob, Lior Lowenstein, Susana Mustafa Mikhae
Raya Strauss Wing, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel., Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel, Nazareth Hospital EMMS, Nazareth, Israel., Raya Strauss Wing, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel, Nazareth Hospital EMMS, Nazareth, Israel.