#359 : Impact of Genitourinary Prolapse on Quality of Life and Sexual Function in Women at Their Midlife

Abstract

Background and Aims: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition affecting women during their midlife, leading to various symptoms and decreased quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess the association of POP severity with QoL and sexual function in women at their midlife, with the objective of providing valuable insights for comprehensive care and effective management of POP. Method: A cross-sectional study included 130 symptomatic GUP women aged 40-60 years from Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital in Dhaka. Group 1 (85 women) had stage 1 GUP, while the remaining were in group 2. Face-to-face interviews and POP-Q staging were conducted, followed by statistical analysis using Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney U, and Spearman rank correlation tests to examine the association of GUP severity with QoL and sexual function between the groups. Results: The mean age of the participants was 51.24 years (SD=5.5). The majority of the respondents were above 50 years of age (56%), and 65.38% of the study population were in group 2. One-third of the respondents (35.38%) had stage III GUP whereas only 4.62% were in stage IV. The frequency of urinary symptoms was most commonly occurring (70%) where dribbling of urine was least frequent (38%). Sexual and bowel symptoms were correlated with advanced stage of disease where urinary symptoms were not associated with GUP severity. Sexual dysfunction symptoms were positively associated with uterine descent. Regarding quality of life, all nine domains of QoL scores had positive correlation with severity of GUP. Conclusion: This study reveals the correlation between POP and urinary, bowel, and sexual symptoms. Clinicians should assess these symptoms for comprehensive care, and further research is required to determine effective treatment options for women with POP.