Gynecologic Disorders in Women With Ehiers-Danlos Syndrome

OBJECTIvE: We characterized the population with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with regard to genital prolapse, urinary incontinence, and other gynecologic disorders. METHODS: Forty-one adult women who had registeredfor a first-ever Ehlers-Danlos multidis-ciplinary clinic participated in the study. Each had a comprehensive standardized evaluation, including gynecologic history, physical examination, urodynamic testing, and physical therapy evaluation. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed to determine means for various gynecologic disorders of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. RESULTS: The frequencies of incontinence complaints (59%), endometriosis (27%), dyspa-reunia (57%), and previous hysterectomy (44%) were higher than expectedfor a population with a mean age of4l years. Incontinence could not be demonstrated objectively. Prolapse was diagnosed in 12 (29.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Careful attention should be paid to women with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome because of an association with many gynecologic complaints. Women with Ehlers-Danlos syn-drome should be questioned regarding incontinence, genital prolapse, endometriosis, and dyspa-reunia. (J Soc Gynecol Invest 1995;2:559-64) KEY WORDS: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, urinary incontinence, genital prolapse,