Work

Association Between Weight Change Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Weight Change During the Perinatal Period Among Chinese Women

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a global problem that severely affects a woman’s quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the association between weight change during pregnancy and post-pregnancy POP. Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 640 participants from Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics (institution 1, n = 363 cases) in northern China and First People’s Hospital of Wanzhou District, Chongqing (institution 2, n = 277 cases) in southwestern China. The participants were grouped into POP-Q I–II (n = 288), POP-Q III–IV (n = 132), and non-POP groups (control group, n = 220). Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), weight gain during pregnancy, and weight retention at 6 months postpartum were compared among the three groups after eliminating confounding factors. Results: No statistically significant differences were detected in the pre-pregnancy BMI in the POP-Q I–IV, POP-Q I–II, and POP-Q III–IV groups compared to the control group ( P > 0.05). Significant statistical differences ( P < 0.05) were observed in weight gain during pregnancy (≥ 14 kg) in the POP-Q I–IV, POP-Q I–II, and POP-Q III–IV groups compared with the control group. Significant statistical differences ( P < 0.05) were observed in weight retention (≥ 5 kg) at 6 months postpartum among the POP-Q I–IV, POP-Q I–II, and POP-Q III–IV groups compared to the control group. Conclusion: Weight change during the perinatal period is the risk factor of postpartum POP. Specifically, a pre-pregnancy BMI < 23 kg/m 2 did not increase the risk of POP, whereas gestational weight gain ≥ 14 kg and weight retention ≥ 5 kg at 6 months postpartum significantly increased the risk of postpartum POP. Weight management programs during and after pregnancy may help reduce the risk of POP. Keywords: perinatal period, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, weight retention postpartum, pelvic organ prolapse

Source: International Journal of Women s Health

DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s550259

Authors: Guan Wang, Li Zhou, Rao Yu, Xiaoqin Wang, Hongyan Cui

Institution: Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics

Language: English

Topic: Pelvic floor disorders treatments

Subfield: Rheumatology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,836