There are a multitude of women’s health issues you might face as you move through the phases of life. When you have a trusted team of professionals like the team at Interior Women’s Health to turn to, navigating these challenges is made much easier.
Today, let’s examine pelvic organ prolapse, a condition that affects many women, and one that, in general, sounds much worse than it actually is.
Simply put, pelvic organ prolapse develops when one or more of your pelvic organs drop from their normal position within your pelvis. These organs might include your uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, or bladder.
These organs are held in place by a network of connective tissue and by the support of nearby organs. When one organ moves out of position, others may also shift.
In some cases, a prolapsed organ can even begin to extrude through your vaginal canal or even extend outside of your vaginal opening. You might also encounter changes in your urinary or bowel function, pain during sex, an inability to keep a tampon in, pelvic pressure, or lower back pain.
However, some women don’t experience any symptoms at all when they develop pelvic organ prolapse.
The root cause of pelvic organ prolapse is a weakening of the muscles and other tissues that hold your pelvic organs in place. Anything that weakens these tissues can lead to pelvic organ prolapse.
A vaginal delivery is the most common cause of pelvic organ prolapse. Additional causes include:
As you can see, many of these causal factors are not within your control. You can reduce your risk of pelvic organ prolapse by maintaining a healthy weight, staying hydrated, performing pelvic floor exercises, addressing chronic coughing, and using hormone replacement therapy during menopause.
If you learn you have pelvic organ prolapse, it’s important to remain calm. While the thought of one of your organs moving out of its normal position can be distressing, this condition is more common than you may think and is highly treatable.
During your visit, your practitioner conducts a basic assessment to determine the exact position of your pelvic organs. This often includes both a pelvic exam and imaging. In some cases, physical therapy is all that’s needed. You’ll learn how to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles to keep your pelvic organs in place.
Some women benefit from using a pessary. This is a silicone device that is inserted into the vagina to hold your pelvic organs in place. Some pessaries are removed at night, cleaned, and replaced in the morning. Other options are placed during an office visit and remain in place for around three months.
In some cases, surgery is the best way to correct pelvic organ prolapse. Your specialist performs tissue adjustments to reduce bulging caused by a prolapsed organ. It’s also possible to alter the ligaments and other connective tissues to give pelvic organs more support.
Your surgeon may place a mesh implant to hold one or more pelvic organs in place. Excess tissue can also be removed during the surgery, which is most often done using minimally invasive techniques.
We cannot stress enough the importance of finding a great OBGYN team to partner with for all of your women’s health needs. The women in our care have access to prompt, science-backed guidance and advice on all aspects of women’s health.
If you develop pelvic organ prolapse, there is plenty to be positive about. Women today have a range of treatment options for this condition. There is no need to live with the changes brought on by pelvic organ prolapse when there are treatment options available.
If you need assistance, we are standing by and ready to help. Just give us a call at 907-479-7701 to find a time that works for you, or visit the Interior Women’s Health online booking page to check appointment availability.
