Pelvic Organ Prolapse Treatment

What is Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Pelvic organ prolapse, also known as POP, is a condition where the organs in your pelvic region start to sag or drop. This happens when the muscles and tissues that normally hold up your pelvic organs become weakened or damaged. The group of muscles that support your pelvic organs is called the pelvic floor. You can think of the pelvic floor like a hammock that cradles your bladder, uterus, vagina, rectum and small intestine. When the pelvic floor muscles become too weak or stretched out, the hammock starts to sag and your organs can start to descend or protrude into places they shouldn’t.

Types of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

There are several types of pelvic organ prolapse depending on which organ is involved:

When the bladder bulges into the vagina.

When the rectum pushes into the vagina.

When the small intestine protrudes into the vagina.

When the uterus drops down into the vagina.

When the top of the vagina loses support and drops.

Symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

In mild cases, pelvic organ prolapse may not cause any symptoms. As it progresses, you may experience:

Feeling of heaviness, pressure or bulge in the pelvis or vagina
Problems peeing like leaking urine or trouble emptying bladder
Bowel issues like constipation, straining or not fully emptying
Pelvic discomfort, aching or pain
Painful sex

Causes and Risk Factors

Some things that can increase your risk of pelvic organ prolapse include:

Pregnancy and vaginal childbirth
Menopause and loss of estrogen
Being overweight or obese
Chronic coughing
persistent constipation
Pelvic tumors
Aging
Genetics

Getting Diagnosed

See your doctor if you have any symptoms of prolapse. They will do a pelvic exam to check for organ prolapse. You may also need imaging tests like an MRI or ultrasound to confirm diagnosis and severity.

Treatment Options

Depending on severity, treatment options may include:

Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen muscles
Devices called pessaries to support organs
Surgery to repair and reconstruct pelvic floor
- Different surgical techniques like mesh augmentation or using your own tissue

Living with Prolapse

Prolapse can impact comfort, relationships, sex life and emotional health. Your doctor can suggest ways to manage symptoms and improve your quality of life. There are also support groups that can help you cope.

The key is seeing a specialist to discuss the best treatment options for your individual case. If you think you may have pelvic organ prolapse, schedule an appointment today.