GENITOURINARY PROLAPSE AND JOINT HYPERMOBILITY IN WOMEN

Objective: To determine whether joint hypermobility, a clinical marker for connective tissue abnormalities, is associated with genital prola pse. Methods: One hundred seven women were recruited from a university gynecology clinic. Subjects were examined in the standing and nonstra ining positions for cystocele, rectocele, and uterine or vault prolaps e. The degree of prolapse was graded 0-3. A separate investigator, bli nded to the results of the gynecologic examination and using accepted criteria, evaluated each subject for joint hypermobility. Results: Cli nical joint hypermobility was found in 39 of 107 (36%) study patients. Subjects with joint hypermobility had a significantly higher prevalen ce of cystocele (33 of 37 [89%] versus 40 of 69 [58%], P = .001), rect ocele (32 of 38 [84%] versus 33 of 69 [48%], P = .0002), and uterine o r vault prolapse (25 of 38 [66%] versus 20 of 69 [29%], P = .0002) com pared to women with normal joint mobility, respectively. No difference s in the prevalence of stress incontinence were found between the two groups. Conclusion: Women with joint hypermobility have a significantl y higher prevalence of genital prolapse compared to women with normal mobility, which suggests an underlying connective tissue abnormality a s one etiology of pelvic relaxation.