What causes this to happen?

  • Pregnancy and childbirth
  • Constipation and straining to pass a motion
  • Repetitive cough e.g. smoker’s, asthma, bronchitis, post viral, whooping cough
  • Repetitive heavy lifting – occupational, domestic, gym exercise
  • Stretched supportive ligaments from above
  • Weak pelvic floor muscles
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Being overweight or obese

What organs can bulge or prolapse?

  • Uterus (womb); or top of the vagina if you have had a hysterectomy in the past
  • Bladder
  • Bowel
  • Urethra (water pipe)
  • Small bowel

What might I feel if a have a prolapse?

  • Nothing
  • Difficulty fully emptying the bowel or bladder
  • Dragging/heavy sensation; rarely, nausea
  • Discomfort with intercourse
  • Bulge in the vagina
  • Low back ache

What can I do about a prolapse?

  • The main focus of conservative treatment is to decrease the load from above arriving into your pelvis and increase the support from below via increased pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength
  • See an experienced pelvic floor physiotherapist for conservative management strategies. You may need a ring pessary or surgery. Talk with your doctor. If you do trial a pessary or go on to have surgery, PFM exercises will complement the ring pessary or surgery.

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