Conditions

Vaginal Prolapse Treatment

Dr Brooke O'Brien will help with a range of treatment options for Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Vaginal Prolapse

Overview

Many women can suffer the effects of Vaginal Prolapse. It is a common condition where your bladder, uterus and/or bowel can protrude through into your vagina.

The pelvic floor involves your muscles, ligaments and supporting tissue that holds your pelvic organs in their correct position. If your pelvic floor weakens then this can cause you pelvic organ prolapse.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Prolapse

There are many different symptoms you can suffer from, such as;

Sensation of vaginal lump
A feeling of "dragging" in the vagina
Lower Back pain
Urinary symptoms such as, slow urinary stream, feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, urinary frequency or an urgent desire to pass urine, and urinary stress incontinence
Bowel symptoms, such as difficulty moving the bowel or a feeling of not emptying properly, or needing to press on the vaginal wall to empty the bowel
Difficulty or discomfort with sexual intercourse

If your prolapse impacts your quality of life, it's time to take action.

Causes of Vaginal Prolapse

Pregnancy and childbirth are considered to be the main cause of pelvic organ prolapse. Prolapse affects 1 in 3 women who have had one or more children.

Other causes that could affect your prolapse is obesity, weight gain, chronic cough, chronic constipation, constant heavy lifting and smoking. All these can contribute to a prolapse.

Diagnosis of Prolapse

Diagnosis

The only way to confirm a diagnosis for pelvic organ prolapse is by a pelvic examination.

You don't usually require an ultrasound for the diagnosis, however, we often recommend to screen for other pelvic conditions which might be contributing to your symptoms.

Types of Prolapse

Prolapse can arise in the front wall of the vagina, back wall of the vagina, or the top of the vagina (vaginal vault). Often a prolapse involves a combination of these areas;

A Cystocele can occur when your bladder moves backward into your vagina, creating a bulge that can be felt on the inside of the vagina towards the front.
A Rectocele can occur when the lower part of your large bowel (rectum) bulges through the back wall of your vagina.
A Uterine Prolapse can occur when if your uterus and cervix move downwards into your vagina.
A Prolapse of the Vaginal Vault could occur if you have had a hysterectomy. It is where the top part of your vagina (vault) collapses into itself and may fall out into the vaginal opening.

Treatment

Treatment of Vaginal Prolapse

The type of treatment we would recommended to you will depend upon the extend of your prolapse, the severity of your symptoms, and your preference for treatment options.

Conservative Treatments

Lifestyle modifications with weight loss and regular exercise
Pelvic Floor exercises with a specialist women's physiotherapist
Vaginal Pessary - it's inserted into the vagina and supports your pelvic floor
EMSELLA chair treatment

Surgical Treatments

About 1 in 5 women will find their symptoms distressing enough to seek surgical treatment. The type of surgery you may require will depend on the type of prolapse you have. Often a number of procedures will need to be completed at the time of your prolapse surgery to achieve the best possible outcome. Dr Brooke O'Brien will go through all this with you.

Women's Health Clinic - Brisbane Northside

If you are worried that you have a prolapse, consider asking for a referral from your GP to Dr Brooke O'Brien for specialist advise.
To find out more about the above services contact us today for a confidential discussion.

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Contact Us

At Nurture Gynaecology, Dr Brooke O’Brien and her women's health team value every single patient. Our practice is located in Everton Park, on the northside of Brisbane.

Contact us today to book your gynaecologist appointment with Dr Brooke O’Brien.

Vaginal Prolapse Treatment