Diseases & Conditions
Vaginal Prolapse
Last updated: November 1, 2005
- Overview |
- Symptoms |
- Causes |
- Risk Factors |
- Diagnosis |
- Complications |
- Treatment
- Self-care |
- Related Conditions |
- Other Articles of Interest
- Providers |
- Request an Appointment
Overview
Vaginal prolapse is the term used to describe a weakness in one or more
sides of the vaginal wall, allowing one or more pelvic organs to fall
into the vagina. Vaginal prolapse is a broad term used to describe the
following:
- cystocele (fig 1) or weakness in the front wall of the vagina allowing the bladder to fall into the vagina,
rectocele (fig 2) is a weakness in the back wall
of the vagina allowing the rectum to fall into the vagina,
enterocele (fig 3) is a weakness in the
top or roof of the vagina allowing small bowel to fall into the vagina,
- and vault prolapse is when the top of the vagina, which is usually deep in the pelvis, descends into the bottom of the vagina or completely outside of the opening of the vagina.
Women often have more than one type of prolapse. The prolapse is staged according to how severe it is, meaning how much the prolapse has descended into the vagina and sometimes outside of the vagina.
Symptoms
Women complain of a bulging or pressure inside the vagina. Some women can see or feel a bulge from the vagina. Women with a rectocele might need to push the prolapse back inside the vagina to defecate (or have a bowel movement) properly. They may also have difficulty emptying their rectum completely and might leak stool after having a bowel movement. Conversly, women with a cystocele might need to push the prolapse back inside to empty their bladder completely.
Women with an enterocele might complain of low abdominal or back pain.
Causes
The causes of vaginal prolapse are not known, but women who have had vaginal deliveries, who have a family history of prolapse, and who are obese have a propensity toward vaginal prolapse then the average woman.
Risk Factors
Woman at highest risk for vaginal prolapse are those who have had vaginal deliveries, usually of large babies, or who have had a surgical delivery with forceps or vacuum for difficult second stage labor (the part of labor where the woman is fully dilated and pushes the baby out of the vaginal canal). Other risk factors for vaginal prolapse are woman who have a family history of prolapse, obese women, women who have a chronic cough from conditions such as smoking or asthma, women who lift heavy weight chronically, and women who have extra fluid inside their abdomen because of liver disease.
Diagnosis
Vaginal prolapse is diagnosed during a vaginal exam by a physician, usually a primary care physician or gynecologist. Some physicians who specialize in treating prolapse and urologic conditions, such as a urologist, or urogynecologist, might recommend a urodynamic test to determine if there are associated bladder conditions that need to be addressed concurrent to the prolapse, such as urinary incontinence.
Complications
Women who had high stage prolapse (or whose prolapse has progressed to be located outside of the entrance to the vagina) might develop difficulty emptying their bladder which may lead to bladder infections or damage to the kidneys. Women might also develop sores or ulcerations on the surface of the prolapsed vagina that is exposed.
Treatment
Self-care
If you suspect you might have a prolapse, seek the advise of your primary care physician who will refer you to a specialist: a urologist, ,gynecologist, or urogynecologist
Related Conditions
cystocele, rectocele, enterocele, vaginal vault prolapse
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