{"id":641456,"date":"2024-10-13T01:10:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-12T22:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated\/"},"modified":"2024-10-13T01:10:02","modified_gmt":"2024-10-12T22:10:02","slug":"what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated\/","title":{"rendered":"#What is pelvic organ prolapse and how is it treated?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a36000623407\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a36000623407\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated\/#What_is_pelvic_organ_prolapse\" >What is pelvic organ prolapse?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated\/#What_does_it_feel_like\" >What does it feel like?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated\/#How_common_is_it\" >How common is it?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated\/#What_causes_pelvic_organ_prolapse\" >What causes pelvic organ prolapse?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated\/#How_is_it_treated\" >How is it treated?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated\/#What_does_surgery_involve\" >What does surgery involve?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2024\/mum-and-baby.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2024\/mum-and-baby.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2024\/mum-and-baby.jpg\" alt=\"mum and baby\" title=\"Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As a urogynecologist I care exclusively for women with pelvic floor problems. These are the women with leaking bladders and weak supporting tissues allowing the vaginal walls to bulge outside.<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                                                    Pelvic organ prolapse can be distressing or embarrassing and interfere with everyday activities. But it&#8217;s also common. For many women, treatment is simple, effective and doesn&#8217;t involve surgery.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_pelvic_organ_prolapse\"><\/span>What is pelvic organ prolapse?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rcog.org.uk\/for-the-public\/browse-our-patient-information\/pelvic-organ-prolapse\/\">Pelvic organ prolapse<\/a> occurs when the supporting muscles and li<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>nts holding up the vagina are weakened, allowing the vaginal tissues to sag or stretch. The pelvic organs behind the vaginal walls\u2014such as the bladder, bowel and uterus\u2014can then drop out of position.<\/p>\n<p>One or more organ may be involved. But other than being out of position, there is not necessarily any problem with how these organs function.<\/p>\n<p>Prolapse is usually described according to which organ has dropped, for example &#8220;bladder prolapse&#8221; (cystocele). Severity is graded according to extent the vaginal wall has descended from its previous position.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_it_feel_like\"><\/span>What does it feel like?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Most women don&#8217;t know an organ or organs have prolapsed until they notice a protrusion from the vaginal opening. They may feel a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nuh.com.sg\/images\/nuhlibraries\/content\/health-resources\/diseases-and-conditions\/pelvicorganprolapse.jpg?sfvrsn=320b2bdc_1\">soft lump<\/a> bulging in the vagina when they&#8217;re washing.<\/p>\n<p>Many simply feel aware &#8220;something is coming down.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Other women may notice they <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theage.com.au\/national\/birth-injury-no-one-talks-about-why-marathon-runner-sally-couldn-t-jog-across-a-car-park-20240912-p5ka35.html\">can&#8217;t trust their bladder<\/a> not to leak when they&#8217;re jumping on a trampoline or running at the gym. Or perhaps they find it harder to keep a tampon in position than it was before children.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_common_is_it\"><\/span>How common is it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Prolapse is <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00192-013-2169-9\">very common<\/a> and its likelihood <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/18799443\/\">increases with age<\/a>. Based on routine vaginal examination (for example, for cervical screening), easily <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00192-013-2169-9\">50% of women<\/a> in developed countries will be classified as having prolapse. Most of these will have no symptoms at all.<\/p>\n<p>When defined by symptoms such as a vaginal bulge or difficulty passing urine, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00192-013-2169-9\">around 5%<\/a> will have specific symptoms.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_causes_pelvic_organ_prolapse\"><\/span>What causes pelvic organ prolapse?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Pregnancy and vaginal birth <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ly cause physical changes, such as relaxation of the vaginal tissues. For most women these are minor, but for some, prolapse can seriously impact quality of life.<\/p>\n<p>After pregnancy, some women may find they need to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/36692525\/\">adjust physical activities<\/a>\u2014particularly high impact exercise or repetitive heavy lifting\u2014as this can make prolapse symptoms more noticeable.<\/p>\n<p>Women who give birth via <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29360829\/\">cesarean section<\/a> are less likely to experience prolapse and incontinence. However as cesareans have their own <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29360829\/\">risk of serious complications<\/a>, they <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rcog.org.uk\/media\/33cnfvs0\/planned-caesarean-birth-consent-advice-no-14.pdf\">can&#8217;t be recommended<\/a> purely to avoid pelvic floor issues.<\/p>\n<p>After vaginal delivery, aging is the second-most common cause of prolapse. This is because the strength of the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19932408\/\">pelvic floor<\/a> deteriorates as we age and especially after <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37431855\/\">menopause<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00192-023-05450-3\">Excessive weight lifting<\/a> and high-impact exercise can also weaken these muscles.<\/p>\n<p>Chronic lung problems, diabetes, high cholesterol, constipation and obesity <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37256322\/\">further increase<\/a> the severity of prolapse and incontinence.<\/p>\n<p>Some women also have <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2218-273X\/14\/9\/1097\">genetically<\/a> poorer quality connective tissues, making them more at risk.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_it_treated\"><\/span>How is it treated?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Severe prolapse, which persistently extends through the vagina and causes significant discomfort, is often managed with surgery.<\/p>\n<p>But it is not always required. In developed countries, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00192-013-2169-9\">only 6\u201318%<\/a> of those diagnosed with pelvic prolapse will have surgery.<\/p>\n<p>For milder cases, a clinician will usually recommend pelvic floor therapy.<\/p>\n<p>Structured pelvic floor <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cochranelibrary.com\/cdsr\/doi\/10.1002\/14651858.CD007471.pub4\/full\">muscle exercises<\/a> (generally working with a therapist over time) are effective as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00192-022-05324-0\">an initial treatment<\/a> when prolapse has occurred. <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cochranelibrary.com\/cdsr\/doi\/10.1002\/14651858.CD007471.pub4\/full\">Pelvic floor training<\/a> during late pregnancy can also be used to treat and prevent further prolapse or urinary incontinence.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, general body strength and fitness <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/fpmrs\/abstract\/2020\/06000\/the_association_between_pelvic_floor_muscle_force.1.aspx\">does not translate<\/a> into strong pelvic floor muscles\u2014only specific exercises do this. But keeping your <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37256322\/\">weight under control<\/a> and managing other health conditions can help reduce symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>Intravaginal support devices, called <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33207004\/\">pessaries<\/a>, can also substantially reduce symptoms. These are usually silicone rings or disks to help support the vaginal walls. They can be fitted by doctors, nurses or physiotherapists and can often be managed by women themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Prolapse can also cause mental health distress. Some women may find their body image suffers, and they may experience anxiety or depression which needs <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00192-021-04941-5\">specific management<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_surgery_involve\"><\/span>What does surgery involve?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In severe cases, a clinician <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.safetyandquality.gov.au\/our-work\/health-conditions-and-treatments\/transvaginal-mesh\/resources-consumers-clinicians-and-health-service-organisations-transvaginal-mesh-and-sacrocolpopexy\/care-pathway-management-pelvic-organ-prolapse-pop\">might recommend<\/a> surgery if conservative management (such as pelvic floor muscle training) has been ineffective.<\/p>\n<p>Surgery can also be necessary in those uncommon cases where the prolapse is affecting kidney or bowel function. In these situations, surgery can restore quality of life.<\/p>\n<p>Surgery for prolapse can be performed through the abdomen (usually keyhole <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roach) or vaginally. For most women, mesh is not required and the surgery involves reshaping and reattaching the stretched tissues to strong ligaments.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, this is not always successful, particularly when the tissues are very weak. Approximately 25% of women will <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajog.org\/article\/S0002-9378(03)00829-9\/abstract\">need further surgery<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In 2017, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tga.gov.au\/products\/urogynaecological-transvaginal-surgical-mesh-hub\/about-transvaginal-surgical-mesh-devices\">withdrew<\/a> their approval for vaginal mesh products for prolapse, after safety concerns. There has since been a marked <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33226698\/\">reduction in surgery<\/a> for prolapse and urinary incontinence.<\/p>\n<p>However, we have not seen a corresponding increase in non-surgical treatments, so we can only assume many women are simply <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www1.racgp.org.au\/getattachment\/e567c7de-aac1-4c20-9292-2dd1472a591e\/Transvaginal-mesh-for-incontinence-and-prolapse.aspx\">not seeking treatment<\/a> at all.<\/p>\n<p>We do need to continue working towards better and safer products to improve the durability of our pelvic floor repairs. But in the meantime, we must also continue to provide individualized care for every affected woman.<\/p>\n<p>For many, maintaining pelvic floor strength and a healthy lifestyle will be enough to return to and enjoy their normal activities. The first step is to talk to your GP, who can explain what options will work best for you.<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n                                                Provided by<br \/>\n                                                                                                    The Conversation<br \/>\n                                                                                                        <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\"><br \/>\n                                                        <svg>\n                                                            <use href=\"https:\/\/medx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n                                                        <\/svg><br \/>\n                                                    <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n                                                This article is republished from <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-is-pelvic-organ-prolapse-and-how-is-it-treated-239199\">original article<\/a>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/239199\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\"\/>\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>                                                 <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                 What is pelvic organ prolapse and how is it treated? (2024, October 12)<br \/>\n                                                 retrieved 12 October 2024<br \/>\n                                                 from https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2024-10-pelvic-prolapse.html<\/p>\n<p>                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2024-10-pelvic-prolapse.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain As a urogynecologist I care exclusively for women with pelvic floor problems. These are the women with leaking bladders and weak supporting tissues allowing the vaginal walls to bulge outside. Pelvic organ prolapse can be distressing or embarrassing and interfere with everyday activities. But it&#8217;s also common. For many women, treatment&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":641457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2024\/mum-and-baby.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-641456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=641456"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/641456\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/641457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=641456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=641456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=641456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}