E-Posters-Is Age at Menarche a Predictor of Pelvic Floor Trauma?

Is Age at Menarche a Predictor of Pelvic Floor Trauma? - Maribina C. Tecson-Lim, MD

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The study investigated the association between age at menarche and levator trauma, a type of pelvic floor injury. A total of 593 women were included in the analysis, with 466 (79%) eligible for analysis after excluding those with missing data and vaginal nulliparity. The mean age of the participants was 57 years, and the mean BMI was 28 kg/m2. The median age at menarche was 13 years, while the median age at first vaginal delivery was 23 years. The median interval between menarche and first vaginal birth was 10 years.<br /><br />Among the participants, 67% had only normal vaginal deliveries, 21% had at least one forceps delivery, and 3% had at least one vacuum delivery. Half of the participants reported prolapse symptoms, and 86% had significant prolapse according to the POP-Q assessment. Levator avulsion, a type of pelvic floor injury, was diagnosed in 26% of the participants using 4D translabial ultrasound.<br /><br />The study found no association between age at menarche and levator avulsion. However, weak associations were observed between avulsion and age at first vaginal birth, as well as the interval between menarche and first vaginal birth.<br /><br />The conclusion of the study was that age at menarche is not a predictive factor for levator trauma. However, delayed childbearing increases the risk of levator avulsion by approximately 7% for every year of delay. The interval between menarche and first birth was not found to be a stronger predictor of trauma than age at first birth.<br /><br />This study provides insights into the risk factors for levator trauma and highlights the importance of considering age and childbirth in evaluating pelvic floor health.

Keywords

age at menarche

levator trauma

pelvic floor injury

vaginal nulliparity

BMI

age at first vaginal delivery

interval between menarche and first vaginal birth

forceps delivery

vacuum delivery

prolapse symptoms