Hospital Morbidity in Brazil due to female genital Prolapse (2021–2025) and the role of pelvic floor physical therapy

Abstract

Introduction: Female genital prolapse is a condition resulting from the weakening of the pelvic floor's supporting structures—often associated with aging, multiparity, and menopause—that compromises women's functionality and quality of life. Objective: The profile of hospital morbidity due to female genital prolapse in Brazil between 2021 and 2025 was described, outlining its temporal, regional, and demographic distribution, while also discussing the importance of pelvic floor physical therapy in women's healthcare. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional epidemiological study using secondary data from the SUS Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS-DATASUS). Hospitalizations for female genital prolapse between 2021 and 2025 were analyzed—categorized by processing year, region, age group, race/color, and type of care—using descriptive statistics. Results: Between 2021 and 2025, 206,066 hospitalizations for female genital prolapse were recorded, with the lowest frequency in 2021 (8.91%) and the highest in 2024 (25.65%). The Northeast Region accounted for the highest number of cases; the predominant profile involved women aged 60–69, of mixed race/color (*parda*), undergoing elective admissions. These findings reflect the impact of population aging and the resumption of surgical procedures following the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need to expand access to pelvic physical therapy as a strategy for prevention, conservative treatment, and the mitigation of disease progression and the need for surgical interventions. Conclusion: Female genital prolapse had a significant impact on hospital morbidity in Brazil, with a predominance of hospitalizations in the Northeast Region among elderly, mixed-race women undergoing elective procedures. The results highlight the need to strengthen efforts regarding prevention, early diagnosis, and access to pelvic floor physical therapy, thereby contributing to improved functionality and quality of life, as well as the organization of women's healthcare.