What is Organ Prolapse?
Organ prolapse or pelvic organ prolapse is due to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. The organs like the uterus or bladder dislodge from their normal position and may cause them to protrude. The feeling of dragging and heaviness inside the vagina is one of the symptoms of organ prolapse.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse Symptoms & Treatments
Organ prolapse often occurs in women than in men. Common causes of organ prolapse are:
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
- Occupations requiring repetitive heavy lifting
- Connective tissue disorders
- Menopause
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Sports activities such as lifting heavyweights
In most cases, organ prolapse is not painful, but it can cause bowel and bladder disorders, sexual dysfunction, and chronic pelvic pain.
For this reason, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. A pelvic health physiotherapist can assist you to perform several pelvic floor exercises and learn how to manage organ prolapse. The goal is to prevent prolapse to progress to grade 3 & 4 when they require surgery for management. In four to six weeks depending on the grade of the prolapse, you may notice a difference. The exercises should be continued at home to ensure you do not develop organ prolapse again.
Common treatments for organ prolapse are:
- Pelvic health physiotherapy to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and educate the patient to manage pain and other complications related to organ prolapse
- Surgical intervention
If you are not sure about the cause of your condition or if a physiotherapist can help, book a consultation with one of our pelvic health physiotherapists or attend one of our FREE workshops that are dedicated to pelvic health.
