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Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence often occur together and are common in older women, leading to surgery in one in nine women in the U.S. In a study from the Women's Health Initiative, 259 women (mean age, 68) were examined over a 4-year period to learn more about the natural history of pelvic organ prolapse.
In years 1 to 4 of the study, the prevalences of prolapse were 24%, 39%, 47%, and 49%, respectively, with a median maximal descent of 1 cm. However, the prolapse waxed and waned in individual women. For example, the incidence of newly diagnosed prolapse was 26% in year 1 and 40% between years 1 and 3, and the incidence of resolution of prolapse was 21% and 19%, respectively, in years 1 and 3. Maximal vaginal descent increas…