This unique study explores, from the men’s perspective, what it means to live with a partner affected by symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse after vaginal birth.

A qualitative, exploratory design was used to analyze interviews with 13 men whose women experienced symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (sPOP) after vaginal birth. The data presented in this abstract stem from an original dataset based on the interviews obtained using purposive sampling, recruiting men via their women on social media. The mean age of men was 38 (30–47) years. All men were present during childbirth. The mean age of women was 34 (29–40) years.The time from symptoms onset to interview ranged from one to eight years, with an average of four years. Eight out of the 13 women were diagnosed with both sPOP and levator injuries. Written consent was obtained from both partners.

The findings revealed that men were impacted by women’s sPOP, facing unexpected challenges that restricted many aspects of their lives and affected both present dynamics and prospects. Instead of sharing duties with women, men often had to take on caregiving roles for newborns and mothers, managing household tasks while providing nurturing care and emotional support. These added demands led to feelings of stress, insufficiency, and powerlessness, resulting in domestic conflicts and strained relationships. Furthermore, women’s sPOP forced couples to give up previously shared activities, such as running and dancing, which harmed their relationship dynamics. When partners continued activities alone, guilt diminished their enjoyment, leading some to withdraw, which, in turn, worsened their physical condition and caused weight gain. Reduced exercise fostered lasting habits that persisted over time. Another profound negative consequence of sPOP was the impact on intimate life. In some cases, a ‘virtually non-existent sex life’ led to a sense of drifting apart, creating emotional distance, contributing to reduced well-being, and even pushing couples to the brink of separation. In addition, future family planning was challenged. Some couples avoided more children, while others required a C-section guarantee, and one chose to have an abortion due to fear of further pelvic floor injuries.

The results mirror the findings from a study on women’s experiences on sPOP, which impacted sexual health, restricted activities, and impaired parenting, compromising psychological health and affecting relationship harmony (1). A key finding of the current study is that sPOP and levator injuries have long-lasting consequences not only for women’s health but also for their men’s well-being and, ultimately, for the well-being of the entire family, altering life plans and influencing future reproductive decisions. The result highlights the need to develop and implement preventive prenatal and intrapartum practices to avoid pelvic floor injuries and to provide information on health risks associated with vaginal birth. However, obstetricians and midwives reported difficulties communicating material risks despite legal requirements (2). Work must be done to align maternity care practices with statutory requirements and ensure women’s right to information on risks and preventive measures for injury, as stipulated in the Patient Act in Sweden (3).

Women’s sPOP negatively impacted their men’s well-being, affecting family dynamics and shaping life plans and reproductive choices. There is a need for individualized prenatal risk assessment for sPOP and the implementation of preventive strategies. Equally important is informing women and, if appropriate, their spouses about the potential risk of sPOP and levator injuries after vaginal birth to ensure informed choices. When birth trauma occurs, providing adequate support and management is essential.

Mirskaya M, Lindgren E-C, Carlsson I-M. Online reported women’s experiences of  symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse after vaginal birth. BMC Women's Health. 2019;19(1):129.
Ely S, Langer S, Dietz HP, Shek KL. Maternity Care Informed Consent Practices and Perspectives: A Qualitative Study at a Tertiary Maternity Unit. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2024.
SFS 2014:82. The Patient Act.