Feelings of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis often accompany pelvic organ prolapse. For women who have given birth, gone through menopause, or had pelvic surgery, prolapse can be a significant issue. The compassionate doctors at Virtuosa GYN provide a variety of options to help you recover from pelvic organ prolapse. Conveniently located in San Antonio, Texas, this practice offers caring solutions to your prolapse symptoms. Call Virtuosa GYN or schedule your consultation online today and get the help you need.
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition in which one or more pelvic organs drop from their normal location. Prolapse occurs when there’s injury to the muscles or tissues that hold your pelvic organs in place.
Women who’ve been pregnant and given birth, especially a vaginal birth, or have a family history of POP, are at risk. Vaginal childbirth can cause trauma to pelvic muscles and tissues, which may be exacerbated over time or complicated by other causes. Additional causes of POP include:
Common symptoms of POP include a constant feeling of heaviness in the pelvis, an increase in pelvic pressure after exercise or standing, and feeling or seeing a protrusion from the vagina.
Symptoms may come and go based on your level of activity and worsen with coughing and sneezing. Some types of prolapse can occur after a hysterectomy.
In a uterine prolapse, the uterus drops down into your vagina. In severe cases, the uterus can protrude from the vagina.
In a cystocele, the bladder drops down and creates a bulge in the front wall of your vagina. Bladder prolapse can cause urinary incontinence.
In a rectocele, the rectum drops down and creates a bulge in the back wall of your vagina.
In vaginal vault prolapse, the top of your vagina drops down, creating a bulge.
Often, POP is diagnosed during your regular pelvic exam. Additional testing to determine the extent of your POP includes a urinary tract X-ray, CT scan, ultrasound, and MRI of your pelvis.
Nonsurgical treatment options include therapies like pelvic floor exercises and pessaries. Pessaries are silicone devices inserted into your vagina to provide support for prolapsed organs.
Your doctor prescribes locally applied vaginal estrogen to assist with comfort and lubrication when using a pessary. She teaches you pessary cleaning instructions and strategies to prevent urinary tract infections.
The doctors at Virtuosa GYN perform a surgical repair if your case is severe and other treatments have failed.
There’s no need to suffer from POP, call Virtuosa GYN or schedule a consultation online now.
