Pelvic organ prolapse is a medical condition commonly seen in women. It is caused by the weakening of the pelvic muscles. This results in the sagging of your pelvic organs. There are chances that the pelvic organs will bulge and slip down the vagina. Nearly 3%–11% of people experience this condition. Though this condition does not seem life-threatening, failing to treat it can result in complications. You must be aware of its symptoms to treat it early. There are treatments and several exercises to help you recover from this condition. Here is a quick outlook on the types, causes and symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse.
The pelvic muscle is responsible for supporting the pelvic organs, including the urinary bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum. There are chances that the ligaments, tissues and muscles holding the pelvic organs will loosen and get damaged. This can result in the shifting of the pelvic organs. This is called pelvic organ prolapse. If the condition is not treated, the pelvic organs will drop outside your vagina, resulting in discomfort.
This is the most common type of pelvic prolapse.
The type of prolapse where the uterus shifts to the vaginal canal is called uterine prolapse. There are four types of prolapse of the uterus based on the stage of the uterus.
This type of prolapse is also called a rectocele. The pelvic floor muscles loosen in between the rectum and vagina. This bulges your rectum.
You can get to know that you are affected by pelvic prolapse through some symptoms. Some of the common symptoms are listed below.
The symptoms listed above can help you determine the type of genital prolapse you experience. The symptoms of a prolapsed uterus are:
Keeping track of the symptoms can help with easy diagnosis and treatment.
There are certain potential reasons that result in pelvic organ prolapse. The weakening of the pelvic floor muscles is the main reason for POP. The following are the reasons that weaken your pelvic floor:
It is important to diagnose the condition immediately when you notice the above symptoms. Your doctor would examine your pelvis based on your symptoms. You would be asked to cough to study the severity of the prolapse. when you strain.
Treating pelvic prolapse is quite important, though it is not life-threatening. Non-surgical treatments are mostly recommended to treat the prolapse. If this treatment does not work, your doctor may recommend surgery. A vaginal pessary is one such non-surgical treatment in which your doctor inserts a silicone device inside your vagina to hold your sagging pelvic organs. It may be recommended that you practice certain pelvic floor exercises called Kegel’s exercise and others to strengthen the pelvic muscles.
There are conditions in which you may need surgery to treat vaginal prolapse. Both reconstructive and obliterative surgery can help treat this condition. A Vaginal hysterectomy with Pelvic floor repair(anterior and posterior colporrhaphy),sacrocolpopexy and sacrohysteropexy are some of the surgeries that help treat vaginal prolapse.
Following a healthy lifestyle can help you prevent vaginal prolapse. Some of the precautions that can help you avoid vaginal prolapse are:
The above gives a clear understanding of the cause, symptoms and treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.
The pressure buildup on the pelvic organs is responsible for the pelvic organ prolapse symptoms.
The most common causes of prolapse are numerous vaginal births, family history, obesity and ageing.
The most common symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse are urinary incontinence, pressure int he vagina, spotting and pelvic organs dropping out of the vagina.
Usually, when you suffer from prolapse, you may experience pressure and heaviness in your vagina. The vaginal organs or other pelvic organs bulge and come out of the vagina, causing discomfort.
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