Pelvic organ prolapse is experienced almost entirely by adult
women. It is more common in white and Hispanic women than in African American
women.1
Pelvic organ prolapse is caused
most commonly by labor and childbirth. A woman's risk of developing pelvic
organ prolapse is 8 times greater after two vaginal births. Her risk increases
by 12 times with four or more vaginal births. About 96 out of 100 women who
have pelvic organ prolapse have had vaginal births.2
Citations
Hendrix SL, et al. (2002). Pelvic organ prolapse in
the Women's Health Initiative: Gravity and gravidity. American Journal of Obstetrical Gynecology, 186(6): 1160-1166.
DeLancey JOL (2008). Epidemiology, pathophysiology,
and evaluation of pelvic organ support. In RS Gibbs et al., eds.,
Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10th ed., pp.
818-838. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Hendrix SL, et al. (2002). Pelvic organ prolapse in
the Women's Health Initiative: Gravity and gravidity. American Journal of Obstetrical Gynecology, 186(6): 1160-1166.
DeLancey JOL (2008). Epidemiology, pathophysiology,
and evaluation of pelvic organ support. In RS Gibbs et al., eds.,
Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10th ed., pp.
818-838. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
