What Is Pelvic Organ Prolapse? Symptoms, Risk, Solution, FAQs

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is when the muscles and ligaments that hold pelvic organs in place are weakened.

As a result, one or more of these organs begin to drop down from their normal position in the pelvis. When this happens, it creates a bulge in the vagina, making many daily activities difficult or even impossible to perform.

POP is a medical condition that affects millions of women all around the world, regardless of their age or ethnicity.

Women are often embarrassed to talk about it because they think they are the only ones experiencing this problem with no hope for improvement.

But in fact, there is plenty you can do if you have POP or know anyone with it.

What causes a woman to have a pelvic prolapse?

Pelvic organ prolapse occurs most often in women who:

Childbirth – POP is most likely to occur during and after vaginal childbirth. Forceps delivery or an episiotomy (surgical incision in the vagina) can make POP more likely to develop or progress, especially if a woman has had multiple children.

Autoimmune connective tissue disease – If you have an autoimmune condition that affects the connective tissues that support your pelvic organs, POP may occur. Connective tissue disease can be caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, or other conditions.

Disruption of the pelvic floor – If you have trauma that causes damage to the muscles, ligaments, or bones of your pelvis, POP can develop. Childbirth or other injuries like sports injuries, fractures, and surgical treatment for disorders of the bowel, uterus, bladder, or rectum are some examples.

Menopause – As you enter menopause and your estrogen levels decline, the connective tissues in your body begin to break down. The same thing happens with POP; over time, estrogen can weaken the muscles and ligaments that support pelvic organs.

Menopause typically occurs after age 50, but women who have gone through menopause at an earlier age may be more likely to develop this condition.

Explosive or violent coughing, sneezing, or laughing – Weakened connective tissues that support pelvic organs can be stretched beyond their limits when you cough, sneeze or laugh. This causes POP to occur. Coughs and sneezes are common during cold or flu season.

For example, when you cough, your abdominal contents are forced downward. This is especially true if you have POP because your pelvic organs are “stuck” in the weakened connective tissues that support them.

Heavy lifting – When you lift heavy objects, your abdominal contents are pushed down and forward, toward the opening of your vagina (introitus). If you have Pelvic organ prolapse this can cause your pelvic organs to bulge or protrude.

Lack of exercise – The connective tissues in the muscles and ligaments that support your pelvic organs are similar to other tissues in your body. Without exercise, these tissues get weak and loose over time. When the pelvis is out of alignment, it places more stress on the organs that are attached to it. Over time, Pelvic organ prolapse can develop.

Slow metabolism – Women who have slow body metabolism might be at an increased risk for developing Pelvic organ prolapse because their connective tissues may lack the nutrients needed to stay strong and healthy.

Aging – As you get older, your estrogen levels decline. This causes the connective tissues in your body to weaken and break down.

Pregnancy – You are at increased risk of POP during pregnancy. This is because your connective tissue has been stretched and now it needs to go back to its original position. In some cases, pelvic organ prolapse can develop as a result of gaining too much weight during pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse?

There are many symptoms of POP. The most common ones include:

• A bulge can be felt or seen in the vagina, just under the pubic bone or around the belly button. If you touch it, it may feel firm or mushy, depending on how advanced your condition is.
• A heavy feeling in the vagina – this may increase with time
• Urinary problems – These can include an inability to completely empty your bladder or a sense of urgency when you have to suddenly run to the bathroom. Urinary problems are more likely if you have POP caused by weakened connective tissue.
• Lumpiness, soreness, or pain in your vaginal area
• A sense of instability in the pelvic region – this can be sensed by walking or standing
• Feeling like something is “falling down” into your vagina
• Sense of rectal discomfort, feeling that you have to somehow fix the problem by using your hand to push tissues back up into place. This can be done while sitting, standing, walking, or during sexual intercourse.

FAQs

What are the risk factors of pelvic organ prolapse?

POP is more common among women than men. Other factors that can increase your chance of developing this condition include:

• Being over the age of 50
• Having multiple pregnancies – The more pregnancies you have, the greater your chances are of developing POP. This is especially true if you have had a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or preterm birth.
• Having a family history of POP – If another close relative has POP, your chances of developing this condition increase.
• Being overweight – Carrying excess weight around your middle causes more stress on the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments. This increases your risk for developing POP.

How do you fix a prolapsed organ?

POP can range from mild to severe. Your doctor will do an examination and tell you if your organs are slightly bulging or protruding, moderately protruding, or even completely prolapsed.

For some women with mild POP, there is no need for any treatment. This is especially true if it is not causing any uncomfortable symptoms or problems.

For other women, however, there are a number of treatment options available – ranging from pelvic floor exercises and Kegel exercises to corrective surgery.

• Pelvic floor exercises include Kegels, which are contractions of the pelvic muscles. Depending on how severe your POP is, your doctor may recommend that you do these exercises every day or several times a week to strengthen the muscles around the vagina and bladder. With time, this can help keep prolapsed organs in place without surgery.
• Pessary: You can also place a pessary or cone inside your vagina. This is to help push the prolapse back up, thus holding it in place. Your doctor will determine whether you need to use this for just a few weeks or longer.
• Surgery: Your doctor may recommend surgery if other treatments don’t work for you. Surgery is usually done through an incision near the belly button. It’s not always necessary to remove organs entirely. In some cases, your prolapse may be treated with mesh or sling surgery to help keep the organs from moving around after they have been repositioned.
• A newer type of surgery is called laparoscopic surgery. In this simple procedure, the surgeon inserts a thin tube through a small incision in your belly button and uses it to reposition the prolapsed organs.

Does pelvic organ prolapse go away?

Pelvic organ prolapse doesn’t always go away. However, it may get better or worse over time. Once you are diagnosed with POP, your doctor will watch you closely to see how the condition develops and recommend treatment options that can help ease your symptoms.

Leaking urine is a condition that affects approximately half of all women who have a first-grade (mild) or second-grade pelvic organ prolapse.

You can try the Pelvic floor Strong program by Alex Miller that will help your problem.

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Does prolapse ruin your life?

It is no secret that pelvic organ prolapse can be quite painful and uncomfortable, and affect your overall quality of life. However, women with POP can still enjoy an active lifestyle and remain sexually active after treatment for the condition. Your doctor will work with you to develop the best treatment plan to help you manage your symptoms and enjoy life.

How can Pelvic Floor Strong Program can help?

The pain, discomfort, and inconvenience of pelvic organ prolapse can be difficult for some women – especially when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The Pelvic floor Strong program by Alex Miller is designed specifically for women who are dealing with urinary incontinence and POP and can help you strengthen pelvic floor muscles.

Here’s how it works:

Train your body to regain the strength of the pelvic floor muscles. Using the Pelvic Floor Strong step-by-step video will help you rehabilitate or prevent more serious problems with organs that protrude into the vagina by strengthening pelvic muscles.

What happens if prolapse is left untreated?

If Left untreated, POP may become worse over time. Severe cases of pelvic organ prolapse can cause urinary leakage and bowel problems. Surgery is usually required to treat severe cases of POP, although you can try other treatment options first if your symptoms are mild. Some women with moderate to severe prolapse will see improvement after they start doing Kegel exercises.

How painful is prolapse surgery?

It’s normal to feel a little nervous about your pelvic organ prolapse surgery, but don’t let it stop you from having the procedure.

In most cases, POP surgery is performed on an outpatient basis with minimal recovery time required afterward.

In some cases, you’ll go home on the same day as your surgery. In fact, because the procedure is quick and your pelvic organs are moved into a more normal position, you can often resume daily activities almost immediately.

In rare instances, women with severe cases of POP are required to stay overnight in the hospital.

What are the side effects of surgery?

Like any type of surgery, pelvic organ prolapse surgery is associated with certain risks. These include infection, bleeding, and anesthetic complications that may require additional treatment.

However, with proper preparation and post-operative care, serious problems are rare.

How much does surgery cost?

POP surgery costs anywhere from $1000 to $9000 depending on the severity of your condition. Having a pelvic organ prolapse doesn’t mean you have to break the bank when it comes to treatment options.

You should be able to find affordable treatment options, but you may need to search for a few different surgeons before finding one that is within your budget. You can also ask about financing or other payment options.