Comparison of Relaxin Levels Between Premenopausal Women and Menopausal Women with and without Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Abstract

Introduction: Aging has been associated with pelvic floor dysfunction, a condition related to secondary effects of various predisposing factors, including postmenomausal estrogenee levels. Decreasing estrogene levels during this period may manifest in degenerative changes in certain organs, including pelvic organ supporting structures. Other contributing predisposing factors for pelvic floor dysfunction include pregancy and delivery. This physiological condition has also been synergentically associated with the endocrine or hormonal system that prepares reproductive organs and supporting structures during pregancy, known as relaxin. This study was conducted to determine relaxin hormonal levels in premenopausal and menopasual women with and without pelvic organ prolapse

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined premenopausal and menopausal women to determine severity degrees of uterine prolapse using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q). Twenty five patients diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse were allotted in to the case group whereas 38 non pelvic organ prolapsed patients comprised the control group. Relaxin serum was measured using Enzym Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). Statistics were analysed using the Mann Whitney test.

Results: Mean relaxin serum levels in premenopausal pelvic organ prolapsed and non pelvic organ prolapsed women were 91.450 ± 52.962 pq/ml and 109.441 ± 134.365 pq/ml, respectively, indicating no significant difference in relaxin serum levels between the two groups (p>0,05). Mean relaxin serum levels in menopausal pelvic organ prolapsed and non pelvic organ prolapsed women were 56.571 ± 37.875 pq/ml and 56.800 ± 57.097 pq/ml, respectively. Statistic testing also showed no significant difference in relaxin levels between the two groups (p>0,05).

Conclusion: Relaxin serum levels in premenopausal pelvic organ prolapsed women did not significantly differ with their non pelvic organ prolapsed counter parts. The same conclusion was drawn between menopausal pelvic organ prolapsed women and their non pelvic organ prolapsed counterparts.

Key words : Relaxin serum, menopause, Pelvic organ prolapse