Uterine Prolapse
What You Need to Know About Uterine Prolapse
A prolapsed uterus has displaced from its original position in the body. The uterus that has slid down towards the vagina because the tissue that once kept it firmly in place against the pelvis wall lost its strength. Sometimes it is a uterus that has slipped into the vagina, or far enough outside the body to be seen. Many women who have a prolapsed uterus experience problems like the ones that follow.
Discomfort
Some women who have a prolapsed uterus feel like something down there is out of place. There may be pressure, and there may be pain. Sex may be uncomfortable too. Other women may feel nothing at all.
Bladder and Bowel Problems
Since the support of the bladder and the rectum are also negatively affected by prolapse of the uterus, a woman who has a severe prolapse may find that she has trouble holding her urine. This can be embarrassing. Another woman may find it hard to urinate and/or defecate.
Uterine prolapse is common in middle-aged women who have given birth, but even women who never gave birth can have a prolapsed uterus. If you have this condition, Kegal exercises may help. You can do them by pretending that you have to go to the bathroom but must wait. Tighten your pelvic muscles for a count of four, then let them relax. Do this ten times to make a set. Do one to four sets a day to make your muscles tight again. Other corrective options include estrogen, having a band of rubber put in the vagina to support the uterus and surgery. The rubber support is called a pessary. The surgery involved is called a hysterectomy, but there is also a surgery that doesn’t require removal of the uterus and can be done to make the muscles tighter. Your doctor will tell you which option is best for you.
References:
- Uterine Prolapse. www.archive.ahrq.gov/consumer/uterine1.htm#sec7
- Hysterectomy Fact Sheet. www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/hysterectomy.html
- “The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine”; The American Medical Association, Medical Editor Charles B. Clayman, MD;1989
Communicating with your practitioner
You are encouraged to make an appointment with your Primary Care Provider or OBGYN if you are bothered by any of the common symptoms above. You know your own body. Together with their medical knowledge, you can get the correct diagnosis and advice for the most effective management of your unique circumstances. The right doctor will be a partner in decision making and will make you feel heard, respected, and in control of your health.
