Introduction and hypothesis: The relationships of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) items pb and Bp with defecatory dysfunction were evaluated with the hypothesis that increased values for both items would correlate with symptoms of stool trapping.
Methods: Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) results and POP-Q exams from 1,663 urogynecology patients were compiled in a database. Rectocele was defined as POP-Q point Bp > -0.5 and perineocele as pb >3. PFDI-20 questions were used to compare defecatory symptoms and bother in women with and without rectocele and perineocele.
Results: While perineocele was not associated with symptoms or bother, women with isolated rectoceles had higher rates of splinting (p < 0.001) and incomplete evacuation (p = 0.001) and higher bother scores (p < 0.001) than those with neither rectocele nor perineocele.
Conclusions: The POP-Q Bp point, but not the pb measurement, correlates with symptoms of defecatory dysfunction.