Don’t Let Pelvic Organ Prolapse Affect Your Sexual Health

By Darlene Gaynor D.O.

Pelvic organ prolapse, also called pelvic floor weakness, is a condition that affects many women who have had children, or a hysterectomy. It occurs when the muscles and ligaments in the pelvis, (which hold the bladder, uterus, and other organs in place), become weak or injured. The condition makes your pelvic organs susceptible to slipping from position and entering the vagina.

Symptoms include:

• Heavy feeling or numbness in your pelvic region
• Bladder control problems
• Discomfort during sex
• Lump of tissue at opening to your vagina

Nearly a third of all U.S. women experience a pelvic floor disorder. Incidents climb with age. Yet despite how common the condition may be, it remains misunderstood by many women, likely because they live with it in secret; too bewildered or self-conscious to talk about it.

Prolapse is treatable

With the proper medical attention, pelvic organ prolapse is treatable. There are several ways to correct it.

1. Pessaries. These are small plastic disks, placed into the vagina during a routine gynecologic office visit, to support the bladder or uterus.
2. Estrogen replacement therapy. Estrogen can help strengthen and maintain muscles in the vagina.
3. Surgery to support the uterus or vagina. During surgery, your doctor may use your own body tissue or synthetic graft to help repair the prolapse and build pelvic floor support. This type of surgery is recommended for sexually active women with serious prolapse of the vagina or uterus. Surgery for prolapse can be done through your vagina or abdomen.
4. Surgery to close the vagina. This surgery treats prolapse by closing the vaginal opening. This can be a good option for women who do not plan to have or who no longer have vaginal intercourse.

Don’t be shy about seeking help

If you experience signs of prolapse, such as pain during intercourse, pressure in the pelvis, or a lump of tissue at the opening of the vagina, make an appointment with a urologist at MidLantic Urology who specializes in Women’s Health. She or he usually can diagnose the presence of prolapse with one exam and discuss treatment options that are right for you. Talking to their patients about prolapse and discussing treatment options is what they do every day. You should never feel intimidated about seeking their guidance.