In Brief: Pelvic organ prolapse can run in the family
In Brief
Pelvic organ prolapse, a common disorder in women, is most often attributed to multiple vaginal births, which can damage the muscles and tissues that support the pelvic organs. Research conducted in pairs of sisters suggests that some women inherit a predisposition to developing pelvic organ prolapse. This could help explain why prolapse sometimes occurs in women who have never given birth — and doesn't occur in most women who do.
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