Home PELVIC FLOOR PROLAPSE AND
INCONTINENCE IN WOMEN
SUMMARY
NewsLetter
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Pelvic floor prolapse is a common condition and it occurs when structures designed to keep the pelvic organs in place weaken or stretch causing them to prolapse. Prolapse means ‘to fall’ or ‘slip out of place’. Women may have mild or severe symptoms due to prolapse. The most common symptoms are observing or feeling a bulge at the entrance to the vagina, as the front or back vaginal walls are weak and come down, sometimes merely when the woman stands up, but especially when she coughs or sneezes. She sometimes has to push the bulge back into the vagina. Prolapse may interfere with intercourse and cause discomfort or pain, and she may experience backache or a dragging feeling in the vagina. Severe prolapse may lead to ulcers on the part that is protruding, and cause bleeding and vaginal discharge.
There are many causes of prolapse, but childbirth, forceps birth and having many children are the commonest.
One of the main problems experienced is stress incontinence which means that the woman passes urine [leaks] involuntarily when she coughs, laughs or sneezes, lifts something or exercises, or even simply when she stands up, and this can be distressing and embarrassing. Another symptom is urge incontinence where there is an urgency to pass urine with very little warning so that it is difficult to reach a toilet in time. These women are also at risk of recurrent urinary tract infections [bladder infections].
Prolapse of the back wall of the vagina occurs less commonly, and may lead to discomfort and constipation.
Prolapse is a quality of life issue and is not life threatening.
Treatment is available, and if your symptoms are unpleasant, discuss them with your doctor to find out what treatment would be involved in your case.
