Pelvic Organ Prolapse is caused by a variety of things, including vaginal childbirth, trauma, nerve damage, muscle strain, increased abdominal pressure (often due to being overweight, chronic cough, or straining) and age, which naturally weakens muscles. Older women are more likely to experience this, and the number of women affected is increasing due to longer lifespan.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse happens when one or more of a woman’s organs in the pelvic area drops from its normal position to push against the walls of the vagina. The different types of Pelvic Organ Prolapse are related to the organ that drops out of position: the bladder, urethra, uterus, vagina, small bowel and/or rectum. Prolapse occurs when the downward pressure of the pelvic organs is greater than the strength of the muscles and ligaments that support the vagina. These supporting structures are located at the vaginal opening, the mid-vagina and at the top of the vagina.
There are, as mentioned, several types of Pelvic Organ Prolapse. These include: Cystocele, Urethrocele, Enterocele, Rectocele, Uterine Prolapse, and Vaginal Vault Prolapse.
Women with pelvic organ prolapse symptoms often experience feelings of discomfort in the pelvic area that may be constantly present or more apt to appear after a long day of standing or after heavy physical exercise.
Noted symptoms include:
- Feeling pressure against the vaginal wall (which feels like sitting on an egg)
- A pain or stretching feeling in the groin that may worsen the longer you stand
- Pain in the lower back
- Heightened discomfort when straining
- Urinary incontinence or needing to urinate frequently
- Bowel problems, such as constipation
- A bulge of tissue that may protrude from the vagina in some cases
Here are some tips on how to prevent Pelvic Organ Prolapse:
Maintain a normal body weight: We know that people who have normal body weight have less pelvic organ prolapse.
Don’t smoke, or quit if you do smoke: This includes marijuana and cigarettes. We know that smoking is anti-estrogenic and weakens the pelvic floor, including chronic cough.
Choose a high-fiber diet and drink plenty of fluids: We know that a high-fiber diet will prevent you from constipation and any straining that may occur as a result.
That being said, don’t strain during bowel movements: This weakens the pelvic floor, especially between the vagina and the rectum and can cause what is called a rectocele.
Exercise your pelvic floor muscles: It’s recommended that you do about 30 Kegels each day. You can incorporate this into your day-to-day life; if you’re at a stop sign, if you’re watching commercials. It’s recommended that patients, after they go to the bathroom, give themselves 60 seconds. Kegel for 10 seconds, relax for 10; Kegel for 10 seconds, relax for 10 seconds. After getting three Kegels in, it’ll only have been 60 seconds.
Don’t do repetitive strenuous activities: Strong muscles are important for your body, especially as you age, but putting excessive repetitive stress on these muscles can cause them to fatigue and break early. This increases your risk for pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.
Get your health checked: You should be doing all that you can to avoid chronic constipation and chronic cough. These put to much pressure on the pelvic floor, and can become a huge problem if not taken care of as soon as possible.
Don’t lift with your back: Your back is very important for your pelvic floor and we highly recommend that you lift with your legs and not with your back. Using your leg and arm muscles as much as possible will help protect your pelvic floor.
Doctor Miklos and Doctor Moore understand the traumatic effects of Pelvic Organ Prolapse, and are world-renowned for their ability to help treat this condition. It affects women not just physically, but emotionally and sexually as well. The doctors have seen and treated all forms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse like the ones listed above, and provide many different types of procedures for relief, including anterior, posterior, and paravaginal repair as well as laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, and uterosacral ligament suspension. Doctors Miklos and Moore have one goal in mind, and that is to help you feel like your normal self, prior to pelvic organ prolapse. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your options, contact the doctors today.