Vaginal hysterectomy and risk of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence surgery.

Objective: This study aims to determine the risk of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery related to mode of hysterectomy focusing on vaginal hysterectomy.

Methods: We performed a nationwide cohort study. Women exposed to hysterectomy on benign indications (n = 118,601) were compared to women unexposed to hysterectomy (n = 579,200). The outcome was defined as first occurrence of POP or SUI surgery. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox proportional-hazards models.

Results: The greatest risks of POP (HR 4.9, 95% CI 3.4-6.9) or SUI surgery (HR 6.3, 95% CI 4.4-9.1) were observed subsequent to vaginal hysterectomy for pelvic organ prolapse. Having a vaginal hysterectomy for other reasons also significantly increased the risks of POP and SUI surgery compared to other modes of hysterectomy.

Conclusions: Hysterectomy in general, in particular vaginal hysterectomy, was associated with an increased risk for subsequent POP and SUI surgery.