A Study of the Relationship between Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Positive Dipstick Urinalysis in Postmenopausal Women
Preecha Wanichsetakul MD*, Orawan Lekskulchai MD*, Karicha Mairiang MD*
Affiliation : * Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
Objective : To study the relationship between pelvic organ prolapse and positive dipstick urinalysis in postmenopausal
women.
Material and Method: From April 2014 to August 2015, the postmenopausal women who attended the urogynecology clinic,
Thammasat university hospital,were asked to join in the study. After signing the informed consent, the general characteristics
data including the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were collected. The physical examination and evaluation of the
quantitative measurement for POP were undergone. All women were asked to take the mid-streamed urine for dipstick
urinalysis. Urinary tract infections were diagnosed by positive leukocyte esterase or nitrite test. Immediately after emptying
the bladder, postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) was measured by using translabial ultrasound and calculated by the
formula: height x depth x 5.6.
Results : There were 221 postmenopausal women with POP and the incidence of the urinary tract infection in this group was
17.6%. Procidentia uteri were found in 39 women and 14 women had positive nitrite or leukocyte esterase tests with a
significant correlation (p = 0.001). The anterior vaginal wall was the most common descending part and usually combined
with other parts. Most women had prolapses at least grade II. The average postvoid residual urine was 35.0+24.4 ml. The
total eversion of vaginal wall, procidentia uteri, was significantly associated with high PVR (p<0.001). And the women with
high PVR had increased risk of positive urine dipstick test (p = 0.009). There was a correlation between anterior and
posterior wall prolapses and UTI (p = 0.02).
Conclusion : There were relationships between pelvic organ prolapse, especially procidentia uteri, anterior and posterior
prolapses and UTI in postmenopausal women.
Keywords : Postmenopause, POP, Dipstick urinalysis, PVR
