Background. We hypothesized that abnormalities in connective tissue, f
ound in women with genital descensus, could impact their pulmonary fun
ction. Method. Therefore we compared lung flows and volumes between wo
men with (n=100) and without (n=100) descensus. Results. Patients exhi
bited highly significant decrements in all expiratory flows, especiall
y in the peak expiratory flow (-35%) and other flows at large lung vol
umes. The forced vital capacity and forced expired volume at 1 second,
but not their ratio, were also decreased (-16% and -17%, respectively
). These differences were exaggerated in postmenopausal subjects and i
n patients with third degree of descensus, but did not depend on the p
resence of stress incontinence. Lung flows and volumes did not change
between follicular and luteal phase of the cycle, either in patients o
r in controls. The forced vital capacity decreased with increasing yea
rs past the menopausis in patients (65+/-10 ml per year), but not in c
ontrols. Conclusion. In women with genital descensus deteriorations in
lung ventilatory function were observed in association with the prese
nce and duration of postmenopausis.