OBJECTIVE: To determine whether joint hypermobility, a clinical marker for connective tissue abnormalities, is associated with genital prolapse. METHODS: One hundred seven women were recruited from a university gynecology clinic. Subjects were examined in the standing and nonstraining positions for cystocele, rectocele, and uterine or vault prolapse. The degree of prolapse was graded 0-3. A separate investigator, blinded to the results of the gynecologic examination and using accepted criteria, evaluated each subject for joint hypermobility. RESULTS: Clinical joint hypermobility was found in 39 of 107 (36) study patients. Subjects with joint hypermobility had a significantly higher prevalence of cystocele (33 of 37 89 versus 40 of 69 58, P = .001), rectocele (32 of 38 84 versus 33 of 69 48, P = .0002), and uterine or vault prolapse (25 of 38 66 versus 20 of 69 29, P = .0002) compared to women with normal joint mobility, respectively. No differences in the prevalence of stress incontinence were found between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Women with joint hypermobility have a significantly higher prevalence of genital prolapse compared to women with normal mobility, which suggests an underlying connective tissue abnormality as one etiology of pelvic relaxation.
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