Anyone who has a dull abdominal pain around the vaginal area, and over time a lump appears protruding from the vagina, which used to be pushed back in with a finger but now cannot be pushed back, this may be a warning sign that you are experiencing pelvic organ prolapse.
What is pelvic organ prolapse?
Pelvic organ prolapse occurs due to weakness of the pelvic floor muscles, which are the muscles that support the organs in the lower abdominal or pelvic cavity. When these muscles weaken, it causes displacement of the organs within the pelvis, including the bladder, urethra, uterus, and vagina in females, as well as the rectum and anus in both males and females.
Who is at risk of pelvic organ prolapse?
The main factors causing pelvic organ prolapse are the weakening of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that hold the organs in place, such as the muscles that support the pelvic organs being damaged. This can happen due to several factors, including:
1. Pregnancy and childbirth, which weaken the vagina and the tissues supporting the vagina. This often occurs during pregnancy or shortly after delivery. If the prolapse persists for a long time, surgical treatment is required.
2. Aging, including elderly women who have gone through menopause.
3. Conditions that increase pressure on the pelvis, such as obesity, chronic constipation, heavy lifting, or straining.
4. Women with genetic disorders related to pelvic organ prolapse.
5. For men, it is not necessary to be elderly to have pelvic organ prolapse. Conditions that increase abdominal pressure, such as chronic coughing, prolonged straining during bowel movements, frequent heavy lifting, improper abdominal muscle exercises, and obesity, can also cause prolapse of pelvic organs.
In fact, pelvic organ prolapse can occur in people of all genders and ages, but the severity varies. It ranges from mild abdominal pain without any protruding lump to severe abdominal pain and abnormal urination. If you experience these symptoms, you should see a doctor for a thorough examination.
6 Symptoms that indicate you may have pelvic organ prolapse
- Lower abdominal pain or a feeling of heaviness in the vagina is a warning sign that the pelvis is starting to have problems.
- Abnormal vaginal discharge with changed colors such as green, yellow, or brown, or blood mixed in the vaginal discharge.
- Pain and bleeding during sexual intercourse.
- Abnormal urination, such as burning sensation during urination, slow urine flow, incomplete emptying, or needing to press the abdomen to help urinate.
- Feeling like there is a lump inside the vaginal area or a lump protruding from the vagina.
- Regarding the anus and rectum, symptoms include pain as if needing to defecate, feeling incomplete bowel movements, difficulty passing stool, needing to strain and spend a long time sitting on the toilet, sometimes accompanied by cramping pain in the lower left abdomen. In severe cases, a lump can be felt protruding from the anus.
Treatment of pelvic organ prolapse
Treatment is divided into two methods: non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment.
Non-surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse
- Monitor your symptoms and consult a doctor to determine the stage of the condition. If it is not severe or symptoms are mild, after being diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse, avoid heavy lifting and excessive straining to reduce the use of muscles around the vagina. Try to exercise the pelvic floor muscles, such as practicing Kegel exercises or losing weight.
- Use a vaginal support device (Pessary) inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic organs. Consult a doctor to select the appropriate device, such as a ring-shaped device that patients can insert and remove themselves.
- For those with mild symptoms, drink plenty of water and eat vegetables and fruits to soften stools, which can reduce symptoms.
Surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse
For patients with severe pelvic organ prolapse, when the doctor diagnoses that surgery is necessary, the doctor will choose the surgical method suitable for each patient, considering factors such as age, underlying diseases, and severity of symptoms.
In cases of pelvic organ prolapse with rectal prolapse, laparoscopic surgery is used to remove part of the intestine and reinforce the pelvic floor. Sometimes surgery may be performed through the abdomen or through the anus. However, the suitability of each method depends on the location of the symptoms in the patient.
Treatment can be done either through vaginal surgery or abdominal surgery to restore the pelvic organs to their original position. Patients who receive treatment can return to normal life quickly.
