June is Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) awareness month.
Did you know up to 50% of women will have signs or symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse over their lifetime? Unfortunately many women will not seek care.
What is a pelvic organ prolapse?
POP is the descent of pelvic organs (uterus, bladder, bowel) into the vagina.
If the supporting tissues are torn or stretched, and you’re the pelvic floor muscles are weak, then the pelvic organs may not be held in their right place. The pelvic organs can sag and may bulge or protrude into the vagina. This is caused by weakness of pelvic floor muscles and ligaments.
Are there different types of prolapse?
Yes, pelvic organs may:
- bulge into the front wall of the vagina (cystocele)
- through the back vaginal wall (rectocele or enterocele)
- or the uterus may drop down into the vagina (uterine prolapse)
Why and how do women get Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
There are many risk factors that contribute to Pelvic Organ Prolapse below is a list of some known contributing factors:
- Age (increased risk over the age of 50)
- Hormonal changes such as the menopause
- Previous pregnancies
- Previous vaginal deliveries
- Gynaecological surgery (eg. prior hysterectomy)
- Long-term pressure on your abdomen; including pressure from obesity, chronic coughing, straining often during bowel movements, heavy weight lifting
- Family history
What are the symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
Some symptoms may include:
- Bulge or lump in the vagina
- Feeling of Heaviness, worse with activity
- Urinary Symptoms: difficulty emptying, slow stream, frequency, incontinence
- Bowel Symptoms, like difficulty emptying bowel or incomplete emptying
- Painful sex
What are the treatments for Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
POP is not a life-threatening disease or disorder, but it can be life altering. There are women who have no symptoms or do not find their symptoms interfere with their day to day activities and no treatment may be warranted. However for many the symptoms of POP can be very uncomfortable and upsetting.
For those women want to seek treatment for their symptoms there are a number of options:
- Pelvic Floor Exercises
- Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
- Use of topical oestrogen cream
- Pessary (vaginal insert to help support the prolapse)
- Surgery (the type of surgery will depend on the degree of symptoms and what organs are affected
What should I do if I think I have a prolapse?
- Do not panic
- Physiotherapy: self-refer to a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
- Hormonal or pessary: discuss with your general practitioner or request to be referred to a urogynaecologist
- Reduce the aggravating factors
If you feel you may have a prolapse or symptoms of a prolapse you can book in to see Kate our pelvic health specialist physiotherapist and she can assess you.