Prolapse

What causes this to happen?

• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Constipation and straining to pass a motion
• Repetitive cough e.g. smoker’s, asthma, bronchitis, post viral, whooping cough
• Repetitive heavy lifting – occupational, domestic, gym exercise
• Stretched supportive ligaments from above
• Weak pelvic floor muscles
• Genetic predisposition
• Being overweight or obese

What organs can bulge or prolapse?

• Uterus (womb); or top of the vagina if you have had a hysterectomy in the past
• Bladder
• Bowel
• Urethra (water pipe)
• Small bowel

What might I feel if a have a prolapse?

• Nothing
• Difficulty fully emptying the bowel or bladder
• Dragging/heavy sensation; rarely, nausea
• Discomfort with intercourse
• Bulge in the vagina
• Low back ache

What can I do about a prolapse?

• The main focus of conservative treatment is to decrease the load from above arriving into your pelvis and increase the support from below via increased pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength
• See an experienced pelvic floor physiotherapist for conservative management strategies. You may need a ring pessary or surgery. Talk with your doctor. If you do trial a pessary or go on to have surgery, PFM exercises will complement the ring pessary or surgery.