Genitourinary prolapse and joint hypermobility in women

doi:10.1016/0029-7844(94)00386-R

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Volume 85, Issue 2, February 1995, Pages 225-228

https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-7844(94)00386-R Get rights and content

Objective

To determine whether joint hypermobility, a clinical marker for connective tissue abnormalities, is associated with genital prolapse.

Methods

One hundred seven women were recruited from a university gynecology clinic. Subjects were examined in the standing and nonstraining positions for cystocele, rectocele, and uterine or vault prolapse. The degree of prolapse was graded 0–3. A separate investigator, blinded to the results of the gynecologic examination and using accepted criteria, evaluated each subject for joint hypermobility. Results: Clinical joint hypermobility was found in 39 of 107 (36%) study patients. Subjects with joint hypermobility had a significantly higher prevalence of cystocele (33 of 37 [89%] versus 40 of 69 [58%], P = .001), rectocele (32 of 38 [84%] versus 33 of 69 [48%], P = .0002), and uterine or vault prolapse (25 of 38 [66%] versus 20 of 69 [29%], P = .0002) compared to women with normal joint mobility, respectively. No differences in the prevalence of stress incontinence were found between the two groups.

Conculsion

Women with joint hypermobility have a significantly higher prevalence of genital prolapse compared to women with normal mobility, which suggests an underlying connective tissue abnormality as one etiology of pelvic relaxation.

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^**: PAN is supported by an NIH Physician Scientist Award K11 AG00454 from the National Institute of Aging.

View full text

Genitourinary prolapse and joint hypermobility in women**

Objective

Methods

Conculsion

Lancet

Vaginal surgery

The biosynthesis of collagen and its disorders

N Engl J Med

Articular mobility in an African population

Ann Rheum Dis

The hypermobility syndrome: Musculoskeletal complaints associated with generalized joint hypermobility

Ann Rheum Dis

The benign hypermobile joint syndrome

Arth Rheum

On the pathology and the operative treatment of displacements of the pelvic viscera

J Obstet Gynaecol Br Emp

The supports-in-chief of the female pelvic viscera

J Obstet Gynaecol Br Emp