Women's Health
Disclaimer
The common conditions below and the associated information have been produced as a guide only. They do not replace the judgement of a clinician. The below information should never be relied on as a substitute for proper assessment with respect to the particular circumstances of each patient. Patients should consult with an appropriate clinician as soon as practicable post injury to avoid complications.
Common Conditions/Injuries
Description
A pelvic organ prolapse is when one of the pelvic organs (uterus, bladder, rectum) loses its endo fascial support and descends into the vaginal space.
Women may experience various types of prolapse.
The most common types of pelvic prolapse seen (shown in picture) are:
- Rectocele prolapse – When the rectum bulges into or out of the vagina.
- Cystocele prolapse – The most common type, is when the bladder drops from its normal position in the pelvis and pushes on the wall of the vagina.
- Uterine Prolapse – This occurs when the muscles that support the cervix weaken, and the cervix descends into and may also protrude from the vagina.
Some common symptoms of prolapse include:
- Sensation of heaviness or pulling in your pelvis
- Tissue protruding from your vagina
- Urinary problems, such as urine leakage (incontinence) or urine retention
- Trouble having a bowel movement
- Feeling as if you're sitting on a small ball or as if something is falling out of your vagina
- Sexual concerns, such as a sensation of looseness in the tone of your vaginal tissue
Treatments
A consultation with one of our Women’s health Physiotherapists is recommended as a first step, to determine the scope and possible treatment options available.
If the prolapse is mild in nature, conservative treatment is the core of rehabilitation. Our Physiotherapist will provide several pelvic floor exercise and simple breathing exercises to encourage pelvic floor muscle and ligament stabilisation.
Our Physio may also recommend the insertion of a Pessary. Our Physios will help you choose the appropriate type and teach you how to safely insert and remove these devices.
It is possible is severe cases that surgery is recommended. In this case one of our doctors will refer you to an appropriately qualified surgeon for a consultation.
Post-surgery, our Physiotherapists will help you recover through guided exercise classes that will aid and increase the rate of your of your post-surgical recovery.
