What Is a Prolapse?
Pelvic Organ Prolapse a condition in which one or more of the pelvic organs comes down or bulges into or out of the vagina, often with the sensation of ‘something coming down below’. The pelvic organs consist of the uterus, bowel and bladder. Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the network of supporting tissues that holds these organs in their correct positions become weakened.
Symptoms of prolapse include:
- A heavy dragging feeling in the vagina or lower back.
- Feeling of a lump in the vagina or outside the vagina.
- Urinary problems such as slow stream, a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, frequency, urgency and stress urinary incontinence.
- Bowel problems such as difficulty moving the bowel or a feeling of not emptying properly.
- Discomfort during sexual intercourse.
What Causes Pelvic Organs To Prolapse?
Pelvic organs can start to fall out of place due to damage of the ligaments and muscles which support the pelvic organs. Damage can arise from:
- Pregnancy and childbirth which are considered major factors
- Menopause
- Conditions that cause excessive pressure on the pelvic floor like obesity, persistent coughing, heavy lifting and chronic constipation
- It may also occur as a result of other medical conditions that can damage the muscles, nerves and ligaments in the pelvis. In rare cases, an abdominal or pelvic mass or tumour can cause a this; or make it worse
Where Can It Occur?
It may occur on the front wall of the vagina, back wall of the vagina, the uterus or top of the vagina.
- Prolapse of the front wall of the vagina -This is the most common and involves the bladder and /or urethra bulging into the vagina
- Prolapse of the back wall of the vagina – This is when the lower part of the large bowel bulges into the back wall of the vagina and/or part of the small intestine bulges into the upper part of the back wall of the vagina
- Uterine prolapse – This occurs when the uterus (womb) drops or herniates into the vagina. This is the second most common form
- Vaginal vault prolapse – Following a hysterectomy, the top of the vagina may collapse downwards, towards or out of the vagina
Can Prolapse Be Treated?
Treatment options can be categorised into non-surgical and surgical options. Below is a summary, and you can find more on our prolapse treatments page.
Non-surgical options:
- It’s rarely a life threatening condition and many women will choose not to have any treatment if they have no symptoms or discomfort
- Pessaries are vaginal devices that come in various shapes and sizes
- Pelvic floor exercises strengthen the weakened pelvic floor muscles
Download our Advice Sheet: [download id=”4900″]
Surgical options:
A surgical repair may be offered to women with symptomatic prolapse. The type of treatment recommended will depend on a number of factors including age, previous surgical history, severity and general health. There are two main options, reconstructive surgery and vaginal closure surgery.
- The purpose of pelvic reconstructive surgery is to restore the pelvic organs to their natural position while retaining sexual function
- Vaginal closure surgery is performed only if it’s severe and the woman is not sexually active, or if she is medically unfit for reconstructive surgery
Download our Advice Sheet: [download id=”4896″]
Seeking Help
If you are concerned about your problem and it is starting to affect your day-to-day life make an appointment to see your doctor, continence nurse or specialist physiotherapist. A continence nurse and specialist physiotherapist are healthcare professionals who specialise in bladder and bowel problems.
For more information, please read our Post Menopause and Prolapse Advice Sheet.
