PELVIC ORGAN

PROLAPSE

Inside a women's pelvis are organs including the bladder, uterus and rectum (back passage).

Pelvic Organ Prolapse is when one or more of the organs in the pelvis drop. It can cause a heavy dragging sensation in your lower abdomen or vagina. You may also feel a bulge at the entrance to your vagina. This can be bothersome and annoying.

PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE

Inside a women's pelvis are organs including the bladder, uterus and rectum (back passage).

These organs are held in place within your pelvis from above via tissues called "fascia" and "ligaments". The pelvic floor muscles also provide upward support acting as a hammock - holding the weight of these organs from below.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse is when one or more of the organs in the pelvis drop. It can cause a heavy dragging sensation in your lower abdomen or vagina. You may also feel a bulge at the entrance to your vagina. This can be bothersome and annoying. It can also have a huge impact on your life, making life uncomfortable and normal every day activities unpleasant.

Many women experience pelvic organ prolapse but please be reassured that you don’t have to live with it or suffer in silence. Help is available at Salveo Physiotherapy. In many cases symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse can be improved and its progression prevented.

Common symptoms

A heavy or dragging feeling in the vagina, especially later in the day

A bulge at the entrance to your vagina

Discomfort with prolonged standing

Increased discomfort with general exercise

A negative effect on intimacy

Difficulty emptying your bladder or bowel

Problems passing urine – such as slow stream, a feeling of not emptying the bladder fully, needing to urinate more often and leaking a small amount of urine

Low back or abdominal aching

Possible causes of pelvic organ prolapse

Pregnancy and childbirth

Weak pelvic floor muscle

Constipation

Chronic Cough

Heavy Lifting

Obeisity

Ageing & Menopause

Strenuous Sports

How can we help?

The NICE guidelines show that you can successfully reduce prolapse symptoms and stop the progression through a personalised pelvic health exercise program designed and managed by a women’s health physiotherapist.