The relationship between the degree of prolapse and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with pelvic organ prolapse

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the degree of prolapse and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study including 40 postmenopausal women who were operated for POP was conducted in University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Turkey. While patients who had grade <3 vaginal cuff prolapse were accepted as low grade prolapse, patients with grade ≥ 3 vaginal cuff prolapse were accepted as high grade prolapse. Patients' demographic characteristics, obstetric and gynecological history, laboratory findings and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry results were recorded as study parameters. Results: The mean age of the early stage and advanced stage patients was 55.2 ± 6.5 years vs 57.8 ± 5.7 years respectively (p = 0.222). Also, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of body mass index, gravida, parity, follicle stimulating hormone levels. BMD of the femur neck and lumbar spine and T score of the femur neck were significantly higher in the low grade prolapse group than in the high grade prolapse group. In addition, estradiol levels of the high grade prolapse group was lower than the low grade prolapse group. Conclusion: BMD and T score of the femur neck and BMD of the lumbar spine were found to be significantly lower in the high grade prolapse group, suggesting that, there may be an association between the severity of POP and the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Keywords

• prolapse
• bone mineral density
• osteoporosis
• menopause

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