Risk of Prolapse after Hysterectomy

Risk of Prolapse after Hysterectomy

The Risk of Prolapse after Hysterectomy is 10%. Few women are warned about the risk of vault prolapse after hysterectomy. Of the 10% who develop a vault prolapse half will then need surgery. If you are one of the 5% then you are going to be experiencing a second surgery. It all may have been avoidable.

Studies show varied cumulative risks over time, with some indicating that up to 16.5% of women may experience a POP re-operation within a decade, and the risk is higher if there was already a weakened pelvic floor before surgery.

Colposuspension on its own can cause vault prolapse – regardless of hysterectomy. This is due to the disruption to the vaginal support structures, leading to new or worsening prolapse.

When combining them in together in a single surgery it increases the risk of the prolapse occurring. The risk is doubled. Colposuspension on its own has a 1:10 risk of prolapse and prolapse alone has a 1:10. Thus the risk is doubled due to combining and they become more than the sum of their parts.

Were you warned about the risks before undertaking surgery? Were there alternative surgeries that you could have chosen but were not offered?