The standardization of terminology of female pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction☆,☆☆,★
Section snippets
DESCRIPTION OF PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE
The clinical description of pelvic floor anatomy is determined during the physical examination of the external genitalia and vaginal canal. The details of the examination technique are not dictated by this article, but authors should precisely describe the technique. Segments of the lower reproductive tract will replace such terms as “cystocele, rectocele, enterocele, or urethrovesical junction” because these terms may imply an unrealistic certainty as to the structures on the other side of the
ANCILLARY TECHNIQUES FOR DESCRIBING PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE
This series of procedures may help further characterize pelvic organ prolapse in an individual patient. They are considered ancillary either because they are not yet standardized or validated or because they are not universally available to all patients. Authors using these procedures should include the following information in their articles: (1) Describe the objective information they intended to generate and how it enhanced their ability to evaluate or treat prolapse. (2) Describe precisely
PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLE TESTING
Pelvic floor muscles are voluntarily controlled, but selective contraction and relaxation necessitates muscle awareness. Optimal squeezing technique involves contraction of the pelvic floor muscles without contraction of the abdominal wall muscles and without a Valsalva maneuver. Squeezing synergists are the intraurethral and anal sphincteric muscles. In normal voiding, defecation, and optimal abdominal-strain voiding, the pelvic floor is relaxed, whereas the abdominal wall and the diaphragm
DESCRIPTION OF FUNCTIONAL SYMPTOMS
Functional deficits caused by pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction are not well characterized or absolutely established. There is a continuing need to develop, standardize, and validate various clinimetric scales such as condition-specific quality-of-life questionnaires for each of the four functional symptom groups thought to be related to pelvic organ prolapse.
Researchers in this area should try to use standardized and validated symptom scales whenever possible. They must always
Acknowledgements
We thank the following consultants who contributed to the development and revision of this article: W. Glenn Hurt, Bernard Schüssler, and L. Lewis Wall.
References (7)
- et al.
Validation of the ICS proposed pelvic organ prolapse descriptive system [abstract]
Neurourol Urodynam
(1995) - et al.
Standardisation of terminology of female genital prolapse according to the new ICS criteria: inter-examiner reproducibility
Neurourol Urodynam
(1995) - et al.
Comparison of measurements obtained in supine and sitting position in the evaluation of pelvic organ prolapse [abstract]
Cited by (3671)
Evaluation of blood type as a potential risk factor for hemorrhage during vaginal hysterectomy
2024, European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive BiologyVaginal laxity: Semiology, diagnosis and treatments
2024, Gynecologie Obstetrique Fertilite et SenologieThe changes in bladder function and symptoms after robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy and transvaginal mesh surgery for pelvic organ prolapse
2024, Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- ☆
From the International Continence Society Committee on Standardisation of Terminology, Subcommittee on Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, in collaboration with the American Urogynecologic Society and the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons.
- ☆☆
Reprint requests: Richard C. Bump, MD, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3609, Durham, NC 27710.
- ★
0002-9378/96 $5.00 + 0 6/1/72363