SORE Study: Sitz Baths After Urogynecologic Reconstruction

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of postoperative sitz baths in patient pain perception and recovery following surgical repair of prolapse. The SORE Study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial that aims to compare postoperative pain intensity one week after native tissue repair of pelvic organ prolapse for patients undergoing a sitz bath regimen versus usual care. Findings from this study may contribute to more robust, multimodal postoperative pain management plans if proven efficacious or, alternatively, reduce plastic medical waste and simplify postoperative pain plans if found to be ineffective.

Inclusion Criteria: * Female ≥ 18 years of age at time of surgery * English or Spanish-speaking * Documentation of pelvic organ prolapse as evidenced by Stage 2, 3, or 4 prolapse on preoperative Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system (POP-Q) examination * Surgery to be performed by a urogynecologist * Ambulatory or inpatient surgery acceptable Exclusion Criteria: * Mesh-augmented prolapse repair (robotic, laparoscopic, or open sacrocolpopexy or sacrohysteropexy, vaginal mesh) * Urogynecologic surgery without prolapse repair (i.e. midurethral sling, intravesicular botox, hysterectomy only) * Suspected genital herpes simplex virus (HSV), molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), condyloma acuminata, or vulvar/vaginal skin and soft tissue infection at recruitment by patient report * Daily opioid use (short or long-acting) * Concurrent non-urogynecologic surgery (i.e. rectopexy, staging or debulking for malignancy) * Lack of access to operative report * Pregnant (as determined by positive urine pregnancy test on the day of surgery via standard testing or current pregnancy documented in the preoperative note) * Incarcerated * Unable to give consent/conserved * Unable to complete study intervention or assessment per investigators