Diagnostiek van uterovaginale prolaps

- Uterovaginal prolapse is a frequently occurring problem, being encountered in 2-88 per 1000 women in the population.

- When diagnosing uterovaginal prolapse, both the anatomical abnormality and the severity should be indicated.

- Anatomically, three compartments can be distinguished: the anterior compartment comprises the urethra and bladder, the middle compartment the uterus, and the posterior compartment the rectum. The compartments may prolapse individually but also in combination.

- The severity of prolapse is assessed per compartment during the Valsalva-maneuver; the determining factor is the position reached by the most prolapsed part in relation to the (remains of the) hymen.

- The ‘Pelvic organ prolapse quantification’(POP-Q)-system has been developed for a standardised description of a prolapse. This system consists of 9 defined points and distances in the urogenital region.

- Additional investigations in the diagnosis of vaginal prolapse, such as imaging, are only of limited value.