Womb or uterus is a muscular structure held by pelvic ligaments and muscles in the female body. If these ligaments and muscles become weak they are unable to support the uterus and womb protrudes out of their normal position into birth canal or the vagina. This condition is termed as the prolapsed uterus.
Uterine prolapse may be complete or incomplete. In complete uterine prolapse, some tissues even rest outside the vagina. Incomplete prolapsed uterus partly sags into the vagina.
Women of any age may suffer from prolapsed uterus but it is more common in women after menopause who had one or more deliveries.
Prolapsed uterus symptoms
Mild cases of uterine prolapse may not display any symptoms or signs. Moderate to severe prolapsed uterus symptoms are as follows:
- The sensation of pulling or heaviness in the pelvis
- Tissue protruding out of the vagina
- Urine incontinence or retention.
- Trouble in passing bowel or constipation.
- Sensation as if something has fallen out of the vagina or you are sitting on a small ball.
- Lost vaginal tissue tone.
- Vaginal bleeding
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Difficulty in sexual intercourse
- Recurrent bladder infection
Prolapse uterus symptoms are less bothering during the morning, but it worsens as the day goes on.
*Often prolapsed uterus is associated with the prolapse of other pelvic organs.
Causes of prolapsed uterus
- Pregnancy
- Difficult labour
- Difficult delivery
- Injury during childbirth
- Delivery of a large baby
- Obesity or overweight
- Lower estrogen level after menopause
- Chronic constipation
- Straining while passing bowels
- A chronic cough
- Lifting heavy weights
Risk factors
As a women ages and the level of estrogen hormones decrease the chances of uterine prolapse increases. Also, any activity that increases pressure on pelvic muscles increases the risk of uterine prolapse. Following are the risk factors:
- One of more vaginal birth and pregnancies
- Delivering large baby
- Ageing
- Obesity
- Any previous pelvic surgery
- Family history
- Chronic constipation and straining while passing bowels.
Diagnosis
By evaluating prolapsed uterus symptoms and doing a pelvic examination, your doctor can diagnose uterine prolapse.
Treatment of prolapsed uterus
Nonsurgical tretment
- Losing weight to reduce pressure off pelvis
- Avoid lifting heavy weight
- Practicing kegel erecises
- Estrogen replacement thrapy
- Wearing pessary- It is a device that is insterted in the vagina. It fits under the cervix and sabilizes cervix and uterus.
Surgical treatments
Surgical traetments include uterine suspension or hysterectomy. Through uterine suspension the surgeon places the uterus back into its original position and reattaches the pelvic ligaments with the help of surgical materials. In severe cases hysterctomy or surgical removal of the uterus is done.
Prevention
Therer are certain things you can do to prevent the risk of uterine prolaspe such as:
- Mainatin a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid lifting heavy weight
- Practice kegel exercises to strenthen the pelvic floor muscle.
- If you have a chronic cough see your doctor and get treated
- Quit smoking
- Ask your doctor for estrogen hormonal therapy post-menopause.
- If you have constipation drink plenty of water, eat fibre rich vegetables, fruits and whole grains to treat constipation.
If you develop prolapsed uterus symptoms, do not ignore them and see your doctor as soon a possible and get treated to avoid complications.
