Pelvic organ prolapse is when organs in the pelvis descend from their normal position and bulge into or protrude outside of the vagina.
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Pelvic organ prolapse is when one or more organs in the pelvis (the bladder, uterus, vagina, bowel and rectum) move down from their natural position. This causes the organs to bulge into the vagina, and in some cases, a prolapse may be large enough to protrude outside the vagina.
1 in 10 women over the age of 50 years is affected by pelvic organ prolapse. A prolapse is not life-threatening, but it can affect quality of life of wen by causing pain, urinary and/or bowel symptoms such as incontinence or difficulties in passing urine or emptying your bowel, sexual dysfunctions and discomfort.
Pelvic organ prolapse happens when the ligaments and muscles in the pelvic floor become weakened and overstretched so can no longer hold the organs in place.
A number of factors can weaken the pelvic floor, increasing the risk of prolapse. These include:
Certain health conditions including joint hypermobility syndrome, Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can also increase the risk of having pelvic organ prolapse.
The symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse vary depending on the severity, but often include:
Pelvic organ prolapse is diagnosed through an internal pelvic examination. In cases where there are no symptoms, pelvic organ prolapse is often discovered during a routine internal examination such as a cervical smear.
Symptoms can often be improved with pelvic floor exercises and lifestyle changes such as:
In some cases, further medical treatment is also needed. The most suitable treatment depends on the type of prolapse and the severity but may be offered in the form of: