What is Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
Pelvic prolapse is when the organs inside your pelvis drop or fall. This makes your organs come down the vaginal canal. Your organs may exit the vaginal opening.
Even though prolapse is very common, most women don’t realize they have it. In fact, 70% of women will get some form of prolapse inside their vaginal canal. If you’ve given birth, had a hysterectomy, or are over 45, your chances of having prolapse may increase.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptoms
Many women do not notice their prolapse until it protrudes out their vaginal opening. You may have prolapse if you notice a bulging in your vagina that feels worse at night or during a bowel movement. You may also feel a bulge at the opening of your vagina.
Consider getting evaluated for pelvic prolapse if you experience troubling symptoms:
- You have bulging in your vagina that bothers you.
- You have a hard time emptying your bladder.
What Does Pelvic Organ Prolapse Feel Like?
Prolapse feels different for each woman. Some women say it feels like they’re sitting on a ball all the time. Other women feel fullness or pressure around their vaginal opening, bladder, or pelvic area.
The most obvious way to tell if you have prolapse is if you feel a bump or bulge at the opening of your vagina.
What Causes Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
Muscles hold up and support the organs in your pelvis. Together, these muscles make up your pelvic floor. You have several different organs in your pelvis:
- Bladder
- Intestines
- Rectum
- Uterus
- Vagina
Over time, your pelvic muscles and connective tissue can tear, stretch, or get weak. When this happens, your organs can drop.
Types of Pelvic Organ Prolapse
There are different kinds of prolapse:
- Cystocele—This type of prolapse happens when your bladder falls down into your vagina.
You may have bladder symptoms. This can include urinating often, not being able to control when you pee, or difficulty emptying your bladder.
- Enterocele or rectocele—If you have an enterocele or rectocele prolapse, your intestines or rectum slide into your vagina.
- Rectocele is when your rectum slides into your vagina.
- Enterocele is when your intestines slide into your vagina.
If you have either of these, it may be hard for you to have a bowel movement. You may also feel like you can’t ever fully empty your bowels.
- Uterine prolapse—A uterine prolapse happens when your uterus falls down into and out of your vagina.
Find a Pelvic Prolapse Specialist
5 Resulting Health Care Providers
Pelvic Organ Prolapse Treatments
Prolapse only needs treatment if you have external bulging or bothersome symptoms. Your urogynecologist (pelvic floor specialist) may suggest watching your symptoms. This idea is called watchful waiting—when you and your provider work together to watch your prolapse symptoms. If your prolapse is mild or doesn't interfere with your quality of life, you may not need treatment.
Treatments for pelvic prolapse depend on how severe your prolapse is:
When to Get Treatment for Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Schedule an appointment with us if you're experiencing troubling symptoms:
- You have a hard time emptying your bladder because of the bulge.
- You’re afraid to spend time with family or friends (or go out in public) because you’re afraid someone will see your bulge.
- You don’t do your favorite activities anymore because of your bulge symptoms.
- Your cervix or vagina has ulcers or bleeds from rubbing against your underwear.
Make an Appointment with a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Specialist
CALL 801-213-2995 TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
What Happens When You Call
You will be asked a few screening questions:
- What are your primary symptoms?
- Are you a new or returning patient?
- Do you have a referral?
- Have seen a specialist for pelvic concerns before?
- Do you want to discuss surgical or non-surgical options?
We will match you with the right provider and visit type based on your answers. If no appointment is available, we'll put you on a waitlist. Before your visit, our clinic support team will contact you to complete paperwork.
Referrals
We do not require referrals to make an appointment. However, some insurance companies require a physician referral to see a urogynecologist. Contact your insurance company to understand your plan's coverage. If a referral is not already in your chart, we may ask you to fax it to 801-585-5146.
Hear From a Urogynecologist About Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Resources for Our Patients
When Should You See a Urogynecologist?
Do you have trouble with an overactive bladder, feel pressure in your pelvis, or feel like your vagina, bladder, uterus, or rectum has dropped, causing a bulge or pressure? You do not have to suffer through these symptoms. They are treatable.
5 for Life Screenings
A big part of staying healthy is detecting diseases early. We make it easy for you to get lifesaving tests for heart disease, breast cancer, cervical cancer, skin cancer, and colon cancer in one convenient visit.
Postpartum and Pelvic Floor Complications
As a mother-to-be or a new mom, there’s a lot you are juggling – life with a new baby, lack of sleep, breastfeeding, and adapting to other changes to your body. Our new clinic for postpartum (after childbirth) pelvic floor problems at University of Utah Health is specifically designed to address pelvic floor issues that may occur before or after childbirth.
Learn More From Our Specialists
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