A comparison of genital sensory and motor innervation in women with pelvic organ prolapse and normal controls including a pilot study on the effect of vaginal prolapse surgery on genital sensation: a prospective study

Abstract

To study genital sensory and motor innervation in women with pelvic organ prolapse and to determine the effect of vaginal prolapse surgery on genital sensation. A prospective observational study. A tertiary referral unit in northwest England. Twenty women complaining of prolapse symptoms (including seven undergoing vaginal prolapse repair) and a control group of ten healthy women. Women attended a research clinic where genital sensory thresholds were determined by quantitative sensory testing and motor innervation was assessed by concentric needle electromyography (EMG) of the pelvic floor muscles. Women undergoing surgery were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 months. Primary outcome measure was change in genital vibration threshold and the percentage of polyphasic potentials on EMG. Healthy control women had normal vibration detection thresholds at the vagina and clitoris. Thresholds in the majority of women with prolapse were abnormal and in all women with prolapse over the age of 50 years. Women with prolapse had a significantly larger percentage of polyphasic potentials of the left pubococcygeus but not the right. There was no significant change in genital sensory thresholds at 6 months postoperatively following vaginal repair. The majority of women with prolapse have abnormal genital vibration detection, which is particularly evident after the age of 50 years. Impaired sensory function does not correlate with EMG markers of partial motor denervation. In women with abnormal sensory thresholds, no additional effect was detected following vaginal prolapse repair.