Improving Treatment Modalities for Pelvic Organ Prolapse using Tissue Engineered Constructs

Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) is a debilitating condition for women health affecting 1 in 4 women. Vaginal childbirth is the main risk factor that leads to tissue biomechanical failure post-menopause. Recently, transvaginal meshes for reconstructive surgery were banned in many countries due to their unacceptable complication rates. At present, there is no optimal therapy for POP. This thesis sheds light on alternative treatments using state-of-the art 3D bioprinted meshes with therapeutic endometrial mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. It presents important considerations for the translation of a new generation of tissue-engineered surgical constructs for vaginal reconstruction from the laboratory to the clinic.