Does pelvic organ prolapse go away?

Why is pelvic organ prolapse so complicated and distressing?

With pelvic organ prolapse, one of the organs in the pelvic region—such as the uterus, rectum or bladder—drops downwards and bulges into the vagina.

What follows is a number of bothersome symptoms, such as:

  1. A persistent feeling that something foreign is inside you. The feeling worsens walking standing or during bowel movements. 
  2. A persistent pressure or pain in the pelvis and lower back.
  3. Troublesome urinary problems such as the need to constantly pass urine or the leaking of urine.
  4. Painful sex or urination

In some cases, the uterus and vagina may bulge through the vaginal opening. For many, this can be embarrassing and make sex uncomfortable, difficult and in some instances impossible. 

Does pelvic organ prolapse go away?

Unfortunately, pelvic organ prolapse will not go away without surgery. Untreated pelvic organ prolapse will remain the same and in many cases simply deteriorate over time. 

There is one exception.

If you have a mild prolapse after childbirth, it will in many cases resolve itself one year or so after delivery. In other words, the prolapse will follow the normal recovery trend after childbirth.

Otherwise, apart from pelvic organ prolapse after childbirth, prolapses tend to stabilize if managed with conservative treatments or get worse.

Why is surgery often necessary if you have pelvic organ prolapse?

An organ prolapse is not a life-threatening condition so you may choose to leave it untreated.

Of course, there are measures that can improve the condition and relieve the symptoms. For instance, pelvic floor exercises (kegel exercises) can strengthen your pelvic floor, improve the support for the prolapsed organ, and relieve the symptoms—though it won’t resolve the prolapse completely or reverse it..

In some instances, you may use vaginal pessaries. These are medical devices inserted in the vagina to provide support. In general, they will hold up the vaginal or uterus walls and push back the prolapse. 

However the most effective way to comprehensively treat a pelvic organ prolapse is surgery that is tailored to repair the prolapse. Ideally your doctor will restore the organ to its place, tighten your pelvic floor muscles, and restore necessary support in your pelvic region so the prolapse is successfully eliminated.

The type of surgery required will depend largely on the organ involved and the specific degree of prolapse. Hence, your doctor will customize the procedure to meet your specific condition and needs.

At St Pete Urology, we help women recover from mild, moderate or severe pelvic organ prolapse. Speaking with one of our experienced urologists will enable you to make an informed decision on how to manage a prolapse.

What are the Symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

In general terms, the pelvic region of a human body is the area between the abdomen and the thighs. The pelvic region primarily comprises the bowels and the organs of the reproductive and urinary systems. In both men and women, pelvic organs are held in place and supported by strong muscles which collectively form the pelvic floor. Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition that results from a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles in women, causing the pelvic organs, chiefly the uterus, the bladder and the small intestines, to droop or descend and press on or even through the vagina. Common causes of pelvic organ prolapse include pregnancy, vaginal childbirth, sustained and prolonged pressure on the abdomen, aging, heavy lifting, hysterectomy, obesity and prolonged chronic coughing. Some women are also genetically predisposed to pelvic organ prolapse.

Symptoms of a Pelvic Organ Prolapse

The symptoms are usually determined by the organ that is affected. The symptoms listed here do not all occur together, although they may manifest in a combination of two or three.

1. A feeling of heaviness, pressure or fullness in the pelvic area. The descending organs put pressure on the lower parts of the pelvis, causing the sensation of heaviness and fullness.

2. Seeing or feeling something coming through the vagina. With time, small parts of the descending organs or the surrounding tissue may be seen through the vagina. Even if not seen, a patient might feel a bulging at the vaginal opening.

3. Urinary incontinence. Pressure on the bladder may cause leaking of urine or a frequent urge to urinate.

4. Painful intercourse and trouble inserting tampons. The displaced organs occupy spaces and put pressure on channels that are usually open to facilitate intercourse and to allow the insertion of tampons, thus making these activities uncomfortable and even painful.

5. Trouble having a bowel movement or constipation. This is common in patients with a rectal prolapse.

6. Lower back ache. This is common with patients who have a prolapse of the bowel.

Most patients report that symptoms worsen late in the day and after standing for a long period of time or taking part in an intense physical activity.

Any of these symptoms should be reported to a urologist so tests can be conducted and treatment administered as early as possible. In addition to finding a competent urologist, a patient also should seek a treatment platform that she is comfortable with. One way to find such a platform is to study the online profiles of urology professionals, such as the one created by St Pete Urology, so as to make an informed choice. For more information, visit the St Pete Urology website.