What is pelvic organ prolapse?

One in three women in the U.S. will suffer from pelvic organ prolapse at some point in their lives. With the right diagnosis and treatment, you can repair the issues and focus on preventing it from occurring again.

Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when an organ that makes up the pelvic floor – the bladder, uterus, vagina, rectum and small bowel – descends or droops, causing pain and discomfort.

Some common symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse include:

• A backache in the lower back
• Painful intercourse
• Urinary problems
• Feeling or pressure or fullness in the pelvic area
• Feeling like something is falling out of the vagina
• Constipation
• Spotting or bleeding from the vagina

Since the symptoms vary based on which organ is experiencing prolapse, it can be difficult to diagnose. However, with the right diagnosis, you can treat pelvic organ prolapse and eliminate these symptoms.

So, what causes pelvic organ prolapse? The most common causes of pelvic organ prolapse include childbirth, labor and pregnancy. Other causes include constipation and respiratory problems, as well as pelvic organ cancers. A hysterectomy can also cause prolapse of the neighboring organs.

Physical therapy serves as a key treatment option for pelvic prolapse. In participating in physical therapy, you can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, through a number of exercises, including kegels. Depending on the severity of the prolapse, other options may include surgery to either repair the organ and surrounding tissue, or remove it.

To keep pelvic organ prolapse from getting more severe, it's recommended that you consult a medical professional as soon as you can for treatment – this will help fix the issue faster and also give you insight in how you can prevent it from happening in the future.

If you think you may have pelvic organ prolapse, contact me to schedule your first appointment to conduct an evaluation.