Established risk factors include:
- Vaginal delivery
- Advancing age
- Obesity
Potential risk factors include:
- Pregnancy (irrespective of mode of delivery)
- Forceps delivery
- Young age at first delivery
- Prolonged second stage of labor (pushing)
- Infant birthweight > 4,500 g
- Shape or orientation of bony pelvis
- Family history of pelvic organ prolapse
- Race or ethnic origin
- Occupations entailing heavy lifting
- Constipation
- Connective-tissue disorders
- Previous hysterectomy
- Selective estrogen-receptor modulators