The quality of life of women with pelvic organ prolapse

Abstract

A woman’s quality of life can be profoundly impacted by pelvic organ prolapse, causing discomfort, urinary incontinence and difficulties in daily activities. These conditions affect physical health, emotional and social well-being, leading to feelings of shame, anxiety and isolation. We carried out a descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, with the aim of assessing women’s overall quality of life, the domains most affected and sociodemographic variables that have been shown to be related to women’s perception of their quality of life. The Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (QASPP) was used to assess quality of life. The results of the 51 women who took part show that the overall perceived quality of life is reasonable or even good, taking into account the average (M = 12.13), the most affected domains were ‘Prolapse symptoms’ (M = 3.60), and ‘Sexual function’ (M = 3.38); age and parity are significant risk factors for women’s quality of life. The conclusion is that there is a need for multidimensional approaches that address both physical and emotional aspects, empowering women to better manage symptoms in their daily lives and consequently improving their perceived quality of life.