Pelvic Organ Prolapse

What causes uterine prolapse?

Uterine prolapse is the result of weakened muscles in your vaginal canal and pelvic floor. The two most common reasons why your muscles weaken include pregnancy and vaginal childbirth.

You can also develop weak muscles as you get older and during menopause. As your estrogen levels begin their decline, it can cause a thinning and weakening of your vaginal walls and pelvic floor muscles that leads to uterine prolapse.

In some cases, underlying health conditions contribute to uterine prolapse. These conditions may include a chronic cough, obesity, and constipation that causes straining during bowel movements.

What are the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse?

• Urinary incontinence
• Vaginal wall prolapse
• Bulging of your vagina
• Difficulty emptying your bladder
• Difficulty having a bowel movement
• Loss of sexual sensations during intercourse

How is uterine prolapse treated?

Initially, treating uterine prolapse involves daily pelvic floor exercises like Kegels to build strength in your pelvic floor muscles. These exercises can also prevent a worsening of your condition.

Other treatments include:

• Estrogen Vaginal Therapy: Alabama UROGYN team can also prescribe estrogen supplements using suppository ovules or rings that you insert into your vagina to strengthen your vaginal and pelvic floor muscles.
• Supportive Device: When you’re not a candidate for surgery, you may benefit from a supportive device like a pessary that holds your uterus in place.
• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy exercises can relieve pain and tenderness in your pelvic area to give you a better quality of life.
• Surgery: If your prolapse is severe, you may need surgery. Dr. Brown may recommend a hysterectomy to remove your uterus. He offers minimally invasive laparoscopic hysterectomies and incision-less surgeries to remove the uterus through your vagina.
  • Cystocele Repair: Cystocele repair surgery involves reattaching herniated tissue that develops when your bladder bulges into your vagina.
  • Rectocele Repair: Rectocele repair reattaches herniated tissue that occurs when your rectum bulges into your vagina.
  • Vaginal Vault Suspension: Vaginal vault suspension reattaches the top of a prolapsed vagina to the tissues in your pelvis to correct bulging in the top of your vagina.
  • Hysterectomy: When your uterus falls into your vaginal canal, you may need a hysterectomy to remove your uterus. 

To find out more about your options for treating all degrees of uterine prolapse, contact us.