Pelvic Organ Prolapse

 

Symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

 

Women with mild or moderate prolapse may complain of pelvic pressure, low backache, or pain, or actually complain that they feel like "something is falling out." These symptoms may worsen at the end of the day, especially in women who have been on their feet all day. Sometimes urinary incontinence (leakage of urine) will accompany the other symptoms if there is loss of support to the bladder neck area. If a rectocele is present, difficulty evacuating the rectum may occur because the rectum is herniating into the vaginal canal.

 

With severe prolapse, a "bulge" is felt out of the vaginal canal. This bulge can be the uterus and cervix (the cervix is the opening to the uterus), the front wall of the vaginal canal with the bladder behind it, or the back wall of the vaginal canal with the rectum behind it. Sometimes the bulge can be felt intermittently because the prolapsed organ actually can go back up into the pelvis. Women with prolapse often notice that if they are on their feet a lot, they notice a lot of bulging. When they lie down, the bulge may disappear back into the vaginal canal. With severe prolapse of the bladder, some patients may experience difficulty emptying the bladder (voiding). This occurs because when the bladder has prolapsed very low, the prolapse can kink the urethra (the passage from the bladder to the outside). If the urethra is kinked, it can be difficult to empty the bladder, or patients notice a slow stream. (It is similar to a garden hose that is kinked and water will not run through it.)

 

If the prolapse is mild or moderate (so no organs are actually bulging out of the vaginal canal) and you are not experiencing bothersome symptoms such as pelvic pressure, backache, urinary incontinence, or difficulty voiding, the prolapse can be observed and no treatment is needed. If the prolapse is severe and the pelvic organ is bulging out of the vaginal canal, most patients are extremely uncomfortable and want treatment to relieve their symptoms. Even if the pelvic organ is not prolapsed out, but you are experiencing bothersome pelvic pressure or backache, you may desire treatment. The physicians of Boardwalk OB/GYN offer treatment for pelvic organ prolapse and are here to help.