Research finds link between childbirth and prolapse

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Muscle damage in childbirth can lead to pelvic floor prolapse later on.
Whether damage to the pelvic floor during childbirth can lead to prolapse later on has long been debated. Now researchers at the University of Michigan reveal that there is indeed a connection. Pelvic floor prolapse causes the uterus, bladder or bowel to 'fall down' out of their normal position. The researchers compared women who did and who did not have pelvic floor prolapse.

They found damage of the levator ani muscle, which supports the bladder and uterus, among 55 per cent of the women with prolapse and among 16 per cent of those who did not. In addition, 52 per cent of those with prolapse said that forceps had been used on them during childbirth, about twice the number reporting this in the group that did not have prolapse. And 31 per cent of those with prolapse had a family history of the condition, compared to 13 per cent of those without prolapse. The findings demonstrate that damage to the levator ani sustained during childbirth could lead to prolapse. But the researchers says the findings should not be used to justify more C-sections for fear of pelvic floor prolapse. This could expose many women to unnecessary operations. Instead, more effort should be devoted to preventing damage to the levator ani during childbirth.

Source
Obstetrics & Gynecology 1st February 2007 Volume 109 Number 2

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