What is Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition caused by weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles. The muscles no longer support the pelvic organs, which include the bladder, uterus, vagina and rectum, so they fall downward. While it's not life-threatening, it can cause uncomfortable and embarrassing symptoms such as incontinence.
Women with this condition don't have to just live with it. Treatments are available, and some don't require surgery.
Watch Kathie Hullfish, MD, discuss pelvic organ prolapse treatments.
OBGYN Discusses Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic organ prolapse is a very common condition for women who have the pelvic organs that are we should say out of position.
When I explain it to patients, the main risk factors for the development of pelvic organ prolapse are multifactorial. Genetics, vaginal delivery, anything that can continually increase what we call intra-abdominal pressure, so chronic coughing, obesity, really strenuous repetitive heavy straining, and lifting.
Many women might choose just to watch and wait, most women by the time they come to see us however are symptomatic and want treatment. So, non-surgical we can offer women a conservative treatment right in the office called a pessary. Pessaries are basically non-latex rubber devices that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They fold up, and they fit inside the vagina, and when they do their job they support all the walls of the vagina.
When it comes to surgery again, we really individualize that based on not only the patient's goals but also what's prolapsing and where because there are a host of different surgeries that are available that can be done as an outpatient that can be done as an inpatient that are strictly all from the vagina that may involve some abdominal or minimally invasive approaches so it really depends on each patient their goals and their entire evaluation
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