Trial lecture - time and place
See trial lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Consultant Gynaecologist / Director of Meetings Philip Toozs-Hobson, Birmingham Womens Hospital
- Second opponent: Professor Kjell Å. Salvesen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Third member of the evaluation Committee: Professor Johanne Sundby, University of Oslo
Chair of Defence
Professor Tom Øresland, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
- Professor Marie Ellström Engh, University of Oslo
Summary
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition that impairs quality of life in many adult women. Childbearing is found to be an important risk factor, but what aspects of childbearing that impair pelvic organ support has been little known since prospective studies have been few and with diverging results.
In the present thesis 300 first time mothers were followed with repeat assessments of pelvic organ support and relevant symptoms from mid pregnancy to one year postpartum.
The aim was to describe change in pelvic organ support, and to present the prevalence of anatomic POP throughout the observation period. Another aim was to identify risk factors for anatomic POP at six weeks postpartum.
Reimers and coworkers found that pelvic organ support change during pregnancy and following vaginal as well as caesarean delivery. Anatomic POP had a peak prevalence of 9% at six weeks postpartum. Risk factors for POP at six weeks postpartum included having a large and distendible opening in the levator ani muscle already at mid pregnancy.
These findings indicate that not only delivery but also pregnancy and genetic predisposition matter for pelvic organ support after childbearing.
Additional information
Contact the Research support staff.