BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the personal views of female gynecologists regarding the management of POP with a particular focus on the issue of uterine sparing surgery. METHODS: A questionnaire based survey of practicing female gynecologists in the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia. RESULTS: A total of 140 female gynecologists from 81 units responded to our questionnaire. The majority of respondents stated they would rely on a urogynecologist to aid them with their choice of POP management options. The most preferred options for POP management were sacrocolpopexy and physiotherapy. Almost 2/3 of respondents opted for a hysterectomy together with POP surgery, if they were menopausal, even if the anatomical outcome was similar to uterine sparing POP surgery. Moreover, 81.4% of respondents, who initially opted for a uterine sparing procedure, changed their mind if the anatomical success of POP surgery with concomitant hysterectomy was superior. Discussing uterine cancer risk in relation to other organs had a less significant impact on their choices. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of female gynecologists in our study opted for hysterectomy if they were postmenopausal at the time of POP surgery. However, variation in information provision had an impact on their choice.

Biomedical Center Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University alej Svobody 80 304 60 Plzeň Czech Republic

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University alej Svobody 80 304 60 Plzeň Czech Republic

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Faculty of Medicine Safarik's University and L Pasteur Teaching Hospital in Kosice SNP Street No 1 04001 Košice Slovak Republic

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital Charles University alej Svobody 80 304 60 Plzeň Czech Republic

Division of Gynecology University Medical Centre Ljubljana Šlajmerjeva 3 1525 Ljubljana Slovenia

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Pelvic organ prolapse and uterine preservation: a cohort study (POP-UP study)