Prolapse explained

A prolapse is when one or more organs in your pelvis - the bladder, womb (uterus) or rectum – falls out of place or drops down.

Causes of prolapse

The bladder, uterus and bowel are kept in place by supporting tissue (fascia, ligaments and muscles). Weakness in these muscles, sagging or damage to these tissues can result in vaginal prolapse. Often the cause is attributed to childbirth. The baby can damage pelvic floor muscles and tissue. For women, the larger number of children increases the likelihood uterine prolapse.

What can be done to prevent prolapse?

It is much better to prevent prolapse than try to fix it afterwards.

Because prolapse tends to run in families, if any women in your close family have had a prolapse, you are more at risk. As prolapse is due to weak pelvic tissues and pelvic floor muscles, all women should keep their pelvic floor muscles strong - no matter what their age - especially if you have a family history of prolapse.

Pelvic floor muscles, just like any other muscles, can be made stronger with the right exercises. We recommend a visit to one of the doctors on the Treatment Centres page. They will perform a non-invasive consultation and prescribe an individual treatment program. Following treatment we strongly advise you to continue with manual pelvic floor exercises to reduce the likelihood of muscle tone depletion.

Seek treatment sooner rather than later. The prevention is better than the cure.

Can I get treatment for prolapse once it has occurred?

If there is a doctor near you with a pelvic floor chair, we believe ExMI treatment should be the first thing you consider, especially in the early stage when the prolapse is not severe or if you find Kegals inconvenient or hard to do, Also -

• Discover what caused your prolapse; you might need to make some changes in lifestyle. Are you getting enough exercise? Do you need to lose weight? How much fluid are you drinking, especially water? Does you diet need to change to facilitate weight loss?
• Avoid straining on the toilet.
• These simple tips can help the need for wearing a pessary, inside your vagina

Different types of prolapse

A variety of different types of prolapse exist and. are graded according to their severity; first, second or third degree prolapse.

Uterine prolapse: described as the dropping of the uterus and cervix down the vaginal canal. This is usually caused by damage to the pelvic floor muscles.

Cystocoele: Part of the bladder drops and presses into the vagina wall. The tissues supporting the wall between the bladder and vagina decrease in strength and endurance.

Urethrocele: the urethra (tube leading from the bladder to the outside of the body) descends and pushes into the vaginal wall. This rarely occurs on its own, and usually accompanies a cystocoele.

Rectocele: the tissues upholding the wall between the rectum and vagina weaken enabling the rectum to drop and push into the vaginal wall.

Enterocele: is similar to a rectocele, but instead involves the perineum (area between the uterus and the rectum) dropping and pushing into the vaginal wall.

Vaginal vault prolapse: in women who have undergone a hysterectomy, the upper part of the vagina drops.