Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the normal support structures for the organs inside the pelvis are weakened. The result is that one or more of the organs (bladder, bowel or uterus) can drop down into the vagina. This may lead to no symptoms at all but more commonly may be felt as a ‘heaviness’ or ‘dragging sensation’. Sometimes a lump is felt or seen.
The cause of prolapse are many and varied but it commonly occurs because of:
- Childbirth
- Increasing age
- Anything that increases the pressure in the abdomen, such as:
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Asthma
- Previous gynaecological surgery
Treatment options include conservative and surgical approaches:
- Conservative: Physiotherapy and the use of vaginal pessaries may be all that are required to manage the symptoms
- Surgical: An operation to reconstruct the pelvic floor may be required. If the uterus is prolapsing a hysterectomy is sometimes required.
Surgery for prolapse is one of the options that a lady has to address the discomfort of prolapse. Physiotherapy and vaginal pessaries are options too.
Surgery to the pelvic floor will re-approximate the prolapsed organs to their original position. What surgery is involved depends on what type of prolapse is present but may involve:
- A bladder repair
- A bowel repair
- Hysterectomy
- Suspension procedure
Prolapse surgery is effective but recurrences of the prolapse may occur again in the future.