Vaginal Prolapse - Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

What is vaginal prolapse?

 

Vaginal prolapse is a relatively common condition, especially among post-menopausal women where pelvic floor muscles weaken. Recognise the symptoms and understand your treatment options to correct this condition.

The organs in the pelvis include the bladder, urethra, small bowel, rectum, anus, uterus and vagina. These are supported by the pelvic floor which is a hammock of muscles that attaches to the pubic bone at the front, and tailbone at the back.

There’s also a series of connective tissue (called fascia) and ligaments that keep the organs in position. Below is a diagram of the ideal placement.              

 

 

 

 

 

 

For reasons discussed later, the pelvic floor can become weak and the connective tissue and ligaments torn and stretched, allowing the organs to shift out of place.

The term ‘vaginal prolapse’ is used to describe a collapsing of the vagina itself, as well as any shifting or impact caused by other prolapsed organs.

With less oestrogen (associated with menopause), the vagina wall can also become thinner and stretch. This makes it less resistant to the pressure applied by other organs that have dropped out of place, allowing them to press into and sometimes, out of the vagina.

Below is an example of where the bladder has fallen onto the front vagina wall. Left untreated, this can continue to push in and down to the point of protruding from the vagina opening.

 

 

Types of vaginal prolapse

There are several types of vaginal prolapse:

• Cystocele – where the bladder pushes into the vagina from the anterior (front) wall as illustrated above
• Rectocele – when the rectum pushes into the vagina from the posterior (back wall)
• Uterine Prolapse – when the uterus descends into the vagina
• Vaginal vault prolapse- It occurs when the upper section of the vagina collapse down to the lower part 

 

 Having more than one prolapse concurrently (e.g. bladder and rectum) is also possible.

 

Stages of prolapse

In addition to the types of vaginal prolapse, doctors are also interested in the degree of prolapse. This measure how far the bladder, uterus or rectum has pushed into the vaginal wall. Described in stages, they include:

 

• Mild
  The displaced organ has pushed a small way into the vagina
• Moderate
  The organ has pushed the vagina wall (front or back) in and down, blocking the vagina opening
• Severe
  There is a protrusion outside the vagina opening. The visible surface of this isn’t the organ itself, but the vaginal wall that’s been pushed out.

 

Causes of vaginal prolapse

According to the Royal Women’s Hospital in Victoria, the biggest cause of prolapse is pregnancy and birth, with almost 50 per cent of women who’ve been pregnant will have some kind of prolapse. It is possible that this won’t present until later in life.

A vaginal birth not only stretches the pelvic floor but often damages the ligaments and tissue. This is even more apparent with large babies. While in most cases, this will heal without intervention, like a sprained ankle, it often results in a persistent, underlying weakness.

Lifestyle can also contribute to the weakening of the pelvic floor. The factors listed below put strain and pressure on the muscle.

• Being pregnant, overweight or obese
• A chronic cough, often associated with smoking
• Persistent straining from constipation
• Repeating lifting of heavy weight (including toddlers)
• High impact exercise and sport

Menopause can also contribute. Oestrogen does assist in keeping the pelvic floor toned so once that declines, so does its strength. This shouldn’t be accepted as an inevitable part of ageing as exercise can restore and maintain condition.

A hysterectomy also puts you at a higher risk of developing a prolapse. With the removal of the uterus, the most common type is a vaginal vault prolapse, where the top section falls into the lower part. If this happens, it places additional stress on the ligaments in the area, which can be further stretched. The removal of the uterus can also allow the small intestines to fall onto the top of the vagina.

Other kinds of pelvic surgery and trauma, as well as family history, can also increase the risk of developing a vaginal prolapse.

 

Symptoms of a vaginal prolapse

It’s not hard to imagine that if these organs have dropped out of position, regular bowel, bladder and sexual functions are affected.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, you may have a prolapse:

• Difficulty emptying the bowel or bladder, which can lead to urinary retention and constipation
• Trouble starting or maintaining a urine stream and needing to empty the bladder more often
• Urinary stress incontinence
• Reoccurring UTIs
• Discomfort during sexual activity, especially intercourse
• The presence of a lump or protrusion in the vagina and in extreme case, from the vagina
• Pain in the pelvis that’s exacerbated by long periods of standing
• Many women describe a sensation of ‘heaviness’ or ‘dragging’ in the area

 

How can vaginal prolapse cause incontinence?

Prolapses involve a weakened pelvic floor. In addition to supporting the organs, this muscle plays an essential role in bowel and bladder control, allowing us to clench and ‘hold on’. If the muscle is weak, that function is compromised.

Pressure from sneezing, coughing, laughing, jumping or lifting something heavy, will result in a leak. That’s because the muscle isn’t strong enough to hold the urine being pushed out of the bladder under this stress. This is known as stress incontinence.

 

Treatment for vaginal prolapse

Unfortunately, a vaginal prolapse won’t correct itself, so if you suspect you have one – at any stage – seek a medical opinion.

Mild cases can be corrected with simple lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking and undertaking pelvic floor exercises.

Pelvic floor exercises can also prevent a prolapse from occurring, so they should be part of every woman’s daily routine. You can read more about how to locate the correct muscle, do the exercises and tips on remembering to do them in this article.

For more moderate cases, a vaginal insert could be the solution. Inserted by a gynaecologist, this device helps restore the position of the vagina and restricts the intrusion of other organs.

In other cases, surgery will be necessary. Discuss the details of what’s suitable for your circumstance, including risks and expected results, with your doctor.

 

Managing incontinence associated with a vaginal prolapse

If you’re experiencing incontinence from a vaginal prolapse, you may feel more comfortable with a disposable, absorbent product while you seek treatment or as you’re strengthening your pelvic floor muscle.

All products in the TENA range have been designed to handle the thinner, faster flow of a weak bladder, locking fluid away and keeping you dry. They’re soft, made of breathable fabric and are highly absorbent to minimise bulk and maximise discretion. They all contain odour-control which doesn’t mask but prevents odours from developing.

TENA Liners are ideal for the small leaks associated with stress incontinence. If you need more protection, check out the extensive range of TENA Pads.

To find the best product for your needs, head to the TENA Product Finder Tool, where you can also order free samples.

 

 

Sources
https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/vaginal-prolapse
https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bladder-bowel/prolapse-bladder-weakness
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/vaginal_prolapse/article_em.htm#what_is_vaginal_prolapse
https://femfusionfitness.com/lift-pelvic-organ-support/
https://www.continence.org.au/pages/prolapse.html
https://www.virginiamason.org/pelvic-organ-prolapse
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cystocele/symptoms-causes/syc-20369452

 

Asaleo Care makes no warranties or representations regarding the completeness or accuracy of the information. This information should be used only as a guide and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional, medical or other health professional advice.