Pelvic organ prolapse: does hormone therapy use matter?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of hormone therapy (HT) use on pelvic organ support.

METHODS: A retrospective observational study involving postmenopausal women with pelvic floor dysfunction attending a tertiary urogynecology center between January 2012 and March 2015. All underwent a clinical examination including International Continence Society Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification and 4D translabial ultrasound imaging. Information on current or former use of systemic HT and current local estrogen use was collected. Main outcome measure was pelvic organ support.

RESULTS: One thousand four hundred forty-three women were seen during the study period. On univariate analysis, current HT was significantly associated with sonographically determined descent of the rectal ampulla (β [95% confidence interval] 3.4 mm [0.4-6.5], P = 0.03) and Gh + Pb (-0.45 mm [-0.8 to -0.1], P = 0.005). Past HT use, duration of HT use, or current vaginal estrogen use was not associated with pelvic organ support. On multivariate analysis controlling for age, parity, body mass index, history of forceps delivery, and avulsion, the association between current HT on the one hand and Gh + Pb as well as increased descent of the rectal ampulla on ultrasound, remained significant (P = 0.008 and P = 0.012, respectively).

CONCLUSION: HT may have a minor negative effect on pelvic organ support; however, the effect is likely too small to be clinically relevant.