Vaginal prolapse is a common condition where the bladder, uterus and/or bowel slip out of place and hang into the vagina. This happens when the muscles, ligaments and tissues that hold the pelvic organs in place weaken, allowing them to bulge through the vaginal wall.
Some women may have a significant amount of prolapse but no symptoms but for many women prolapse can cause problems that significantly affect them on a day to day basis. You may feel a sensation of heaviness or dragging in the pelvis, or a lump or bulge coming into the vagina which you notice more at the end of the day of after standing for long periods of time or straining. The bulge can make intercourse difficult or uncomfortable, which means you avoid being intimate. Your bowel may be affected with constipation and a lump coming into the vagina when your bowel is full or your may experience problems with bladder control.
This can make intercourse uncomfortable, lead to constipation, or cause bladder control issues. Many women delay seeking help due to embarrassment, but remember — pelvic floor dysfunction affects nearly half of women. Early treatment leads to the best outcomes, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Our first step is to help you feel at ease. We’ll discuss your symptoms and how they affect your quality of life, followed by a gentle examination to determine whether a prolapse is present, its type, and severity. An ultrasound may also be done if needed.
Based on the findings, we’ll discuss personalized management options — ranging from simple behaviour changes and medications to vaginal rings or surgical procedures. Our goal is to restore comfort and confidence so you can feel like yourself again.