Prolapse
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is when one or more or the pelvic organs move out of their position and bulge into the vagina. This can be the bladder, bowel, uterus or top of the vagina.
The symptoms of prolapse include, a heavy, dragging sensation in the abdomen or vagina, or a bulge that can sometimes be felt at the opening to the vagina and may cause bladder or bowel dysfunction. Some statistics include:
POP is common and occurs in 40-60% of women.
1 in 12 women in the community in the UK reports symptoms of POP
A woman’s lifetime risk of surgery for POP is 12-19%
In the UK POP accounts for 20% of women waiting for major gynaecology surgery and is a leading indication for hysterectomy in postmenopausal women.
Although a prolapse is not life threatening it can cause pain and discomfort and can significantly affect a woman’s quality of life.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend a programme of supervised pelvic floor muscle training for at least 16 weeks as a first option for women with pelvic organ prolapse.