Do you sometimes feel a heaviness, pressure, or something like that in your vagina? Does this discomfort get worse when you stand for a long time, cough, or lift something heavy? Many women are a little embarrassed or afraid to talk about these things. But this is not just your problem. Today we are talking about a condition called enterocele, which affects many women but is not talked about much.
What is Enterocele? Let's understand it simply.
Simply put, an enterocele is a condition in which the small intestine , which is located in our abdomen, descends into the pelvic area, pushing against the upper wall of the vagina. This is also called small bowel prolapse.
Imagine if the floor on the top floor of our house were to weaken, something similar would happen here. When the supporting system of muscles and tissues in our pelvic area weakens, the organs above it start to fall down. This can be called a type of pelvic organ prolapse in women.
Why does this happen? What factors increase the risk?
Our pelvic cavity is like a strong mesh. This mesh is made up of muscles, connective tissues, and ligaments. These are what hold our organs like our uterus, bladder, and intestines in place. These problems occur when this support system becomes weak, stretched, or torn for various reasons.
Let's see what the main reasons are for this in the table below.
| Risk Factor | How it affects |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy and childbirth | During childbirth, the pelvic floor muscles are put under a lot of pressure, which can cause them to weaken. |
| Menopause | As we age, especially after menopause, the hormone estrogen decreases, causing muscle strength and flexibility to decrease. |
| Prolonged cough | Constant coughing due to diseases like asthma or smoking can often put pressure on the lower abdomen. |
| Frequent constipation | Frequent straining during bowel movements can damage the pelvic floor muscles. |
| Lifting weights incorrectly | Frequent lifting, especially with incorrect posture, puts pressure on the pelvic floor. |
| Obesity | As body weight increases, pressure is constantly placed on the muscles that support that weight. |
| Pelvic surgery | This risk may increase after surgeries such as hysterectomy. |
| Some genetic diseases | Conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome that weaken connective tissue. |
Importantly, some people with enterocele may also have other prolapsed organs. For example, cystocele, rectocele, or uterine prolapse. Don't worry, you don't have to have all of these. But it's good to know that they can be related.
Do I have this condition too? What are the symptoms?
What's really strange is that some women with this condition don't show any symptoms . But if symptoms do appear, they can look like this.
- Heaviness or pressure in the lower abdomen and vagina: It may feel like there is something like a ball inside the vagina. This may be worse when standing or coughing.
- Feeling a lump in the vagina: Sometimes you can actually feel or feel something like a lump inside the vagina.
- Difficulty defecating: A feeling as if the stool has not been completely expelled.
- Back pain: If this back pain, especially if it is relieved by lying down, it may be related to this condition.
- Urinary incontinence: You may unintentionally leak a small amount of urine when you cough, laugh, or sneeze.
- Difficulty during sex: You may feel pain or pressure during sex.
How do you find this, Doctor?
When you tell your doctor about this kind of discomfort, the first thing your doctor will do is examine you thoroughly. This will definitely include a pelvic exam . During this exam, the doctor will ask you to cough or press down a little. Then, the lower part can be felt better, so the condition can be diagnosed more accurately.
In addition, the doctor may recommend several other tests if necessary.
- Imaging tests: You may be asked to have an MRI , ultrasound , or CT scan to clearly see the condition of the pelvic floor muscles and organs.
- Cystoscopy: This test uses a thin tube with a camera to examine the inside of the bladder and see its position.
- Urodynamic testing: A series of specialized tests that look for the cause of bladder function and urination problems.
What are the treatments for this? Does everyone need surgery?
One of the things that many people fear is whether they will need surgery. The good news is that not everyone will need surgery. Treatment depends on your age, health, and the severity of your symptoms. Many people who are asymptomatic will not need any treatment.
| Main treatment methods | |
|---|---|
| Nonsurgical Treatments | |
| Pessary | This is a small device made of rubber or silicone that is inserted into the vagina. It is designed to provide support for the lower limbs. It is designed to be removable and replaceable. This is a good solution for those who are waiting for surgery or who do not want to have surgery. |
| Pelvic floor exercises | These are called Kegel exercises . They strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor. You can learn how to do them properly from a physical therapist. Sometimes, techniques like biofeedback can be used to make sure you're doing them correctly. |
| Surgical Treatment | |
| Repair surgery | Only if other methods have failed or the condition is severe will the doctor consider surgery. This surgery involves moving the prolapsed bowel back into place and repairing any torn or torn tissue. Most of the time, these are minimally invasive surgeries performed through the vagina. |
What can we do to prevent this?
There are a few simple things we can do to reduce the chance of this problem occurring.
- Eat foods rich in fiber: Eat things like vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains, and drink plenty of water to prevent constipation.
- Be careful when lifting: If you are lifting something heavy, ask someone for help. Lift with your knees bent, not with your back bent.
- Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity puts unnecessary pressure on the pelvic floor.
- Get treatment for a cough: If you have a persistent cough, see a doctor to find the exact cause and get treatment.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking not only causes coughing but also reduces the health of body tissues.
When is it best to see a doctor?
The most important thing is to talk to a doctor about this discomfort, without feeling embarrassed or afraid. This is normal and can be treated.
If you have the following symptoms, see your doctor immediately:
- If you cannot control your urine.
- If there is blood in the urine.
- If you have pain when urinating or need to urinate frequently.
- If you have severe constipation or difficulty defecating.
When talking to a doctor about a problem like this, ask all the questions you have. Ask questions like, "Why did I get this?", "What is the best treatment for me?", "Are there other things I should be careful of?" to get a better understanding of your condition.
Take-Home Message
- Enterocele is a condition in which the small intestine descends into the vagina due to weakness of the pelvic floor muscles.
- This is not a serious disease to be afraid of. Many women may not show symptoms.
- In most cases, simple, non-surgical treatments (pessary, Kegel exercises) can effectively control symptoms.
- If you have lower abdominal pain, pressure, or other discomfort, don't be shy or afraid to talk to your doctor about it. The sooner you seek advice, the simpler the solutions will be.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න