Modern terminology and classification of female pelvic organ prolapse

Objective: The aim of this study is to clarify the news and to summarize recommended methods in the quantification of female pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Design: Summarizing study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Masaryk University, University Hospital Brno. Methods: The terminology of POP was significantly reworked in last decades. It is important to use common classification system for mutual communication of specialists and for exact interpretationof research. Results: The older classifications of POP are not exact enough for interpretation of research. International classification system Pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) brought necessary consensus in the terminology, encompassing many parameters that exactly define individual anatomy of each female patient. This detailed terminology could be replaced with simplified but also satisfactorily detailed version called Simplified POP-Q for the regular clinical practice. Modern classification of POP is still developing and new concepts of vaginal and perineal measurements for description of operation techniques effectiveness are waiting for further validation. Conclusion: Modern terminology and classification of POP meets the requirements of current science and research and also is usable for regular clinical practice.