The problem most often affects new mothers after birth and women going through menopause. Beyond the dysfunction of the organs themselves, the bigger problem is that women do not know the condition has developed. Prolapse is a disorder of support: it comes with weakness of the muscles and ligaments of the pelvis, and as a result the pelvic floor drops downwards together with the organs.
Up to grade II it can be addressed with physiotherapy.
Grades of prolapse
- O - no change
- I - descent to above the halfway point of the vagina
- II - descent to the halfway point of the vagina
- III - descent from the halfway point to about 2 cm above the vaginal opening
- IV - prolapse of the organs to the vaginal opening or beyond
Symptoms
- A feeling of heaviness in the vagina
- A feeling of something dropping
- Urinary incontinence
- Frequently recurring infections
- Discomfort or pain during intercourse
- A feeling of a foreign body (an egg) in the vagina
- The above symptoms worsening on exertion or during longer periods of standing
Therapy
- Detailed history
- Assessment of pelvic floor muscle function
- Learning correct posture for passing urine and opening the bowels
- Re-learning everyday activities
- Learning to contract and release the pelvic floor muscles correctly
- Speculum and ultrasound examination, assessment of pelvic organ support