Prolapse
Prolapse (or falling) of any pelvic floor organs (vagina, uterus, bladder or rectum) occurs when the connective tissues or muscles in the body cavity are weak and cannot hold the pelvis in its natural position.
More than 120,000 women undergo surgery for uterine and vaginal vault prolapse each year in the United States.
Causes
The weakening of connective tissues accelerates with a variety of factors:
- After childbirth
- Age
- Pelvic pressure
- Sexual dysfunction
- Strenuous physical labor
- Urinary incontinence
- Vaginal ulceration (bulge)
- Weight gain
Treatment
- Surgical
- Colpocleisis
- Sacrocolpopexy
- Sacrospinous ligament fixation
- Uterosacral ligament plication
- Vaginal cystocele/rectocele repair
- Non-Surgical
- Pelvic floor therapy
- Pessary