Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition in which one or more of the organs that make up your pelvic anatomy—such as your bladder—drop from its natural position onto your lower abdomen, placing pressure against the walls of the Vagina.
Pelvic organ prolapse can be of many types (view animation) and more than one pelvic organ can prolapse simultaneously. Your bladder, urethra, vagina, uterus, Rectum and small bowel are organs that can be involved when you have a pelvic organ prolapse.
| |
Causes
Pelvic organ prolapse is caused when your pelvic muscles weaken or get stretched due to childbirth or surgery. Typically, your pelvic organs are held together by the muscles and tissues in your lower abdomen. During childbirth, these muscles can get weak or stretched. If they fail to get back to their original shape, they lose their ability to support your pelvic organs. Similarly, surgery to remove your Uterus (hysterectomy) can sometimes leave other organs in the Pelvis with inadequate support leading to prolapse. Although it is not a major health problem, pelvic organ prolapse can be very agonizing and painful. Fortunately, the condition rarely worsens and in some women it does not pose a major hindrance in their day-to-day lives.
|
Other causes:
Although childbirth and surgery are the major causes of pelvic organ prolapse, there are certain risk factors (see Box) that can worsen the condition in women suffering from the problem.
Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse are:
- Feeling pressure or pain from pelvic organs pressing against the vaginal wall.
- Feeling of fullness in your lower abdomen.
- Feeling of something bulging or falling out from the Vagina.
- Pain in your lower back.
- Feeling a pull or stretch in your groin area.
- Vaginal pain during sexual intercourse.
- Difficult bowel movements, Constipation and liquid stools.
| | Factors that worsen pelvic organ prolapse | | Obesity or being overweight | | Persistent cough | | Constipation | | Pelvic organ cancer | | Genetics | | Age |
Click here to view the animation |
|
Seeking medical help
If you experience one or more of the above symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor may conduct various physical tests to arrive at a diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse based on an approach of exclusion. This means that before arriving at a diagnosis, he or she will rule out the possibility of any other disease or condition that may be causing you these symptoms. Your doctor will recommend treatment depending on which pelvic organs have prolapsed and the severity of symptoms. Your pelvic organ prolapse can be diagnosed as mild, moderate or severe.
|
Mild prolapse:
If the pelvic organ prolapse is not too serious, the following tips will help in relieving symptoms: - Do Kegel exercises: Kegel exercises are done to strengthen your pelvic muscles and surrounding regions. Although shown here while lying down, it can be done almost anywhere and any time. To exercise these muscles, just pull in or "squeeze" your pelvic muscles as if you are trying to stop urine flow. Hold this squeeze for about 10 s, then rest for 10 s. Do sets of 10–20 contractions per day.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Avoid beverages that contain caffeine—they can increase the urge to urinate.
- Do not lift heavy objects—they can put pressure on your pelvic muscles.
| |
Moderate prolapse:
Ifthe above techniques do not work and symptoms still persists, yourdoctor may have you fitted with a pessary—a removable device that isfitted into your Vagina to hold the pelvic organs in place. However, ifyou have a severe prolapse, you may have trouble keeping a pessary inplace.
|
Severe prolapse:
In severe cases of pelvic organprolapse—where there is extreme pain due to the prolapsed pelvic organ,problems due to leaking urine, severe and recurrent Constipation orpain during sexual intercourse—surgery may be the only option torelieve symptoms. But remember—pelvic organ prolapse can recur aftersurgery. | |
Doing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles will help you recover faster from surgery.
|