Can the Change in Oxidative Stress Accompanying Pelvic Organ Prolapse Be Determined Noninvasively

This study evaluated whether OS markers can be detected non-invasively in vaginal fluid and whether they correlate with POP severity.
We prospectively enrolled 160 women with POP between February 2021 and June 2023. Vaginal fluid samples were collected, and three OS markers: 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), and advanced glycation end products (AGE) were quantified using commercial ELISA kits. POP severity was assessed by POP-Q and ultrasound parameters.
8-OHdG was consistently detectable and significantly elevated in advanced POP compared to early stages (p = 0.001), showing a modest positive correlation with prolapse severity (ρ = 0.24, p < 0.001). Regression analysis confirmed 8-OHdG as an independent predictor of prolapse severity (R² = 0.964). AGE levels did not differ significantly between groups, and HNE values were below detection thresholds in most samples. No associations were found between OS markers and age, BMI, or menopause duration.