Does your vagina feel like it's prolapsed? (Vaginal Prolapse) Let's talk about this!

Do you sometimes feel a heaviness, pressure, or a pulling sensation in your vagina? Some people may feel like something is coming out of your vagina, or like a small ball is sitting on top of it. This condition can also cause lower abdominal pain and backache. This is actually a common condition that affects many women. So, let's talk about it in detail today.

What is Vaginal Prolapse?

Simply put, vaginal prolapse is when the upper part of your vagina, the top of your vagina, drops down from its normal position. You know, your vagina is a tunnel-like structure that connects your uterus to your vagina. When this upper part of your vagina weakens, it loses its support for the organs above it, and those organs start to fall into your vagina. That's when you feel like you're in a lump or something.

Our pelvis is home to several important organs, including the vagina, uterus, bladder, and rectum. All of these organs are held in place by a strong support system made up of muscles and other tissues called the pelvic floor. Just as an umbrella can hold things up when turned upside down, the pelvic floor also holds our organs up. However, over time, or for other reasons, this support system can weaken. When this happens, organs start to sag. This is what we call prolapse .

This prolapse can be minor or major. A minor prolapse is called an incomplete prolapse . In a major prolapse, that is, a complete prolapse , the organ can descend quite far and sometimes even protrude through the vaginal opening. This is a somewhat serious condition.

Vaginal prolapse can cause painful symptoms. Mild to moderate prolapse may not require surgery. However, in severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct it.

Are there different types of prolapse?

Yes, it is true that various organs in our pelvic cavity can prolapse. The names given to this condition vary depending on the organ that prolapses. Let's look at the main types:

• Vaginal prolapse or apical prolapse: This is when the top of the vagina (vaginal vault) drops into the vaginal cavity. This condition is most often seen in women who have had a hysterectomy.
• Uterine prolapse: This is when the uterus slips into the vagina. In some severe cases, the uterus can protrude through the vaginal opening. This can feel like vaginal tissue is rubbing against clothing.
• Bladder prolapse (Cystocele): This is when your bladder pushes into the vagina.
• Urethrocele: In this case, the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder, is pushed into the vagina.
• Rectocele: The last part of your large intestine, the rectum, protrudes into the back wall of your vagina.
• Enterocele: This is when part of the small intestine protrudes into the back wall of the vagina.

How common is vaginal prolapse?

This condition is actually more common than you might think. More than a third of women will experience some form of pelvic organ prolapse at some point in their lives. You're more likely to develop this condition as you get older, especially if you've had multiple vaginal births.

How do I know if I have this condition?

Sometimes you may not even know you have this condition, especially if the prolapse is small. In such cases, your doctor may find it during a routine pelvic exam. However, some people don't realize it until the tissue comes out of the vagina. Others may experience pain or a feeling like something is on top of their balls.

Will this lowering affect other parts of the body?

Yes, not only the vagina, but several other organs in the pelvic cavity can slip out of place. Depending on the type of prolapse you have and its severity, other nearby organs can also be affected. For example, problems with the kidneys, urethra, and rectum can occur. Since this prolapse can cause other problems, it is very important to see a doctor and get checked out.

What are the symptoms of vaginal prolapse?

The symptoms of this condition can vary from person to person. Here are some common symptoms:

• A feeling of fullness, heaviness, or pain in the pelvic area. This feeling may increase as the day progresses, when standing, lifting, or coughing.
• Lower back pain.
• Feeling like there is a lump in the vagina.
• A feeling like something is slipping out of the vagina.
• Urinary incontinence .
• Frequent urinary tract infections.
• Difficulty defecating (constipation).
• Discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse.
• Difficulty inserting objects such as tampons into the vagina.

How does it feel when the vagina is lowered?

If the prolapse is very small, some people may not notice anything. In such cases, a gynecologist will find it during a routine examination. However, if it is a little too low, it may feel like a ball hanging out of the vagina, or it may cause pain during urination or sex.

What are the causes of vaginal prolapse?

As we've discussed before, our vagina is held in place by a support system made up of muscles and other tissues. Over time, this support system weakens. This is when the vagina starts to slip out of place and fall down. There are several main reasons for this:

• Childbirth: This risk is higher, especially if you have had multiple vaginal deliveries, a long labor, or a large baby (over 9 pounds).
• Menopause: During menopause, your ovaries stop producing the hormones that control your monthly menstrual cycle. Estrogen is the most important of these hormones , as it helps keep your pelvic muscles strong. When estrogen levels in your body drop, your pelvic muscles weaken and prolapse can occur.
• Surgery: If you have had a hysterectomy, you are at higher risk of vaginal prolapse.
• Aging: The risk of developing this condition increases with age.
• Excessive physical activity or heavy lifting: Think about how much weight our mothers and aunts lift when doing household chores, carrying water, or lifting large logs for the wood stove. When you lift heavy weights with such excessive exertion, your pelvic muscles can weaken and your organs can drop.
• Genetic or hereditary factors: Some people's pelvic support system may be slightly weaker from birth.

In addition, some activities and conditions that put extra pressure on the abdominal cavity can also cause these drops. Examples:

• Not maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Frequent heavy lifting.
• Excessive straining during bowel movements.
• Having a persistent cough (this is common in people with asthma or respiratory diseases).

How do you recognize vaginal prolapse?

This condition is usually diagnosed by a gynecologist. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms, such as pelvic pain and urinary incontinence. They may also ask about your previous birth history. In most cases, the doctor can tell if you have prolapse during a physical exam or by looking at your vagina.

Sometimes you may not have any symptoms, and the doctor will only find it during a routine pelvic exam.

If you have difficulty urinating, your doctor may order other tests to check your bladder function. They may also order an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan or pelvic ultrasound to get a better view of other organs in your pelvic cavity.

At what age do these declines usually occur?

Vaginal prolapse is more likely to occur after menopause and after multiple natural childbirths. It is most common in women over 50, but it can occur at any age.

How to treat vaginal prolapse?

Treatment options vary depending on the severity of your depression. Sometimes, your doctor may decide to monitor you for a while to see if your condition gets worse.

There are both non-surgical and surgical treatment options for this. When creating a treatment plan, the doctor will take several factors into account:

• Your general health and whether you have any other serious illnesses.
• your age.
• The severity of the decline.
• Do you hope to have children in the future?
• Whether you expect to have vaginal sex (penetrative sex) in the future.

It is very important to talk openly and honestly with your doctor about these matters. If you have any questions or concerns about this treatment, discuss them with your doctor.

Non-surgical treatment

These are usually the first things to try. They work well for minor to moderate depression.

• Exercise: There are special exercises that can strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, these are called Kegel exercises . Here's how to do them: Tighten your pelvic muscles as if you were trying to stop the flow of urine. Hold for a few seconds and then release. Do this about 10 times in a row. You can do these exercises about four times a day, and the best part is that you can do them anywhere, even sitting.
• Vaginal pessary: ​​This is a device that is usually shaped like a small plastic or rubber donut. It is placed inside the vagina. It acts as a support and helps to keep the organs in place. Your doctor will choose the right size pessary for you and insert it. It should be cleaned regularly and removed before having sex.

Surgical treatment

If the prolapse is severe, surgery can be performed to correct it. Here are some options:

• Vaginal vault suspension: This involves attaching your vagina to the ligaments in the pelvic cavity that help hold it up.
• Sacrocolpopexy: In this surgery, a mesh-like structure is attached to your vagina and secured to the tailbone, the lowest bone in your spine. This provides better support for your vagina. This surgery is performed through a few small incisions in your abdomen, using a minimally invasive surgical technique called laparoscopy .
• Colpocleisis: This surgery involves sewing the vagina shut. One advantage of this surgery is that the risk of prolapse occurring again is very low. However, penetrative sex cannot be performed through the vagina after this surgery.

What happens if this decline is not treated?

If vaginal prolapse is left untreated, the condition can worsen. In addition to increasing pain, it can also lead to vaginal sores, infections, and increased risk of damage to other organs in the pelvic cavity.

So if you have these symptoms, it's best to seek medical advice without being ashamed or afraid.

Can you push something down with your hand?

No, you can't push up a prolapsed vagina on your own. This should only be treated by a doctor. You may feel a little lower, and you may need to push it up a little to defecate or urinate. But this is only temporary and will not permanently fix the problem.

Can vaginal prolapse be prevented?

While it's not always possible to prevent this, there are some good lifestyle habits you can adopt to reduce your risk of vaginal prolapse:

• Regular exercise (especially Kegel exercises ).
• Maintaining a healthy body weight and diet.
• Not smoking (smoking can increase coughing, which puts pressure on the pelvic floor).
• Using correct posture when lifting weights.

What are the correct lifting positions? How do they help prevent falls?

When you lift something heavy, your muscles can become overworked. This strain can lead to pelvic organ prolapse. By following these few tips, you can reduce the risk:

• Don't lift heavy objects alone: ​​If you have to lift something that is oddly shaped or very heavy, ask someone for help.
• Check your feet: Before lifting anything, check that your feet are firmly planted on the ground.
• Lift with your legs: When lifting something below your waist, keep your back straight and bend at your knees and hips. Don't bend forward at the waist, keep your knees straight.
• Keep your feet wide apart: When lifting something, keep your feet apart and firmly planted on the ground.
• Don't jerk or twist when lifting: Make sure you straighten your knees slowly and evenly. Don't lift the load in a jerky motion.
• Move the item around before lifting: If you are lifting something from a table, pull it to the side of the table so you can hold it close to your body.
• Keep the load close to your body: Bend your arms, tighten your abdominal muscles, and keep the object you are lifting close to the center of your body.
• Lowering an item is done in the same way as lifting it: with your legs apart, your abdominal muscles tight, and your hips and knees bent.

Can vaginal prolapse recur?

Yes, vaginal prolapse can recur after treatment. However, most treatment plans are very successful. If you have had multiple prolapses or severe prolapse, your doctor will talk to you about surgical options.

What is the final word on vaginal prolapse?

In most cases, vaginal prolapse can be treated successfully. Treatment and lifestyle changes usually work well. Talk to your doctor about all your treatment options and how each option might affect you. Your doctor can also help you develop good lifestyle habits that will help reduce your risk of vaginal prolapse in the future.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any of the following symptoms, see a doctor immediately:

• A feeling of fullness in the vagina, or a feeling like you're on a ball.
• Feeling like a lump or something like a knot is coming out of the vagina.
• Pain in the lower back or pelvic area.
• Needing to urinate more often than usual.
• Pain during sex.
• Irregular vaginal bleeding.

Don't let the symptoms of vaginal prolapse interfere with your daily life. While this is not a serious condition, it can cause problems if left untreated or worsened.

Take-Home Message

Okay, so let's remind you of the most important points from what we talked about today.

• Vaginal prolapse is the descent of the vagina and related organs due to weakening of the pelvic floor muscles.
• The main causes of this can include childbirth, menopause, aging, weight lifting, and some surgeries.
• Symptoms may include a feeling of something coming out of the vagina, heaviness, back pain, and urinary problems.
• If you have symptoms like these, don't be shy or afraid, see a doctor.
• This condition can be successfully treated with non-surgical treatments such as Kegel exercises and pessaries, as well as surgery if necessary.
• A healthy lifestyle and using correct posture when lifting weights can help reduce this risk.

I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions about this, be sure to talk to a doctor.

Vaginal Prolapse, Pelvic Floor, Uterine Prolapse, Women's Health, Kegel Exercises, Gynecology