• Do you have a heaviness or a dragging sensation within your vagina?
• Can you feel something bulging at the entrance of your vagina?
• Do you feel restricted in the activities you do due to a bulging sensation at your vagina?

 

Vaginal prolapse occurs when parts of the bowel, bladder or uterus bulge into the vagina. There are different types of prolapse – bladder prolapse or anterior vaginal wall prolapse; a rectocele or posterior vaginal wall prolapse; or a uterine prolapse where your uterus begins to descend into the vagina.

Most women describe a prolapse as feeling like a heaviness or dragging sensation within their vagina that progressively worsens during the day, depending on their activity. Some women may feel the prolapse at the vaginal entrance when in the shower or wiping after going to the toilet. A prolapse may interfere with emptying your bowels or bladder properly.

How to do you Treat a Vaginal Prolapse

Many vaginal prolapses can be successfully managed conservatively, with the support of a Women’s Health physiotherapist. Your physiotherapist can prescribe pelvic floor exercises, modify your lifestyle factors and/or fit a pessary to help your prolapse. A pessary is a silicone device that can be inserted into the vagina to support the walls and organs that are prolapsing into the vagina. The process of fitting a pessary involves a trial of different pessaries to find one that fits you.

Other treatment options include speaking with a gynaecologist who specialises in prolapse surgery to correct the problem. Usually, you will need to have had some sort of pelvic floor physiotherapy, prior to surgery, to ensure optimal outcomes after surgery.

Usually, a vaginal prolapse will not correct itself. With appropriate early management, your symptoms may improve without the need for pessaries or surgery, depending on the severity of your prolapse.

Common Symptoms

Some common symptoms of a vaginal organ prolapse may include:

• Sensation of heaviness or dragging in your pelvic area or vagina
• Feeling something bulging at the entrance of your vagina
• Having difficulty emptying your bowels
• Having difficulty urinating, urinating too frequently or urinary incontinence (leaking urine)
• Feeling a bulge in between your legs at the end of the day
• Lower back pain
• Difficulty with intercourse or inserting tampons
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• Noticeable prolapse after you have given birth

How can we Help?

At Anchala Rehabilitation Physiotherapy, our experienced women’s health physiotherapists are able to assess the extent of your prolapse. They will provide you with an individualised treatment plan that will include an exercise program for both your pelvic floor muscles, and to improve your overall fitness. We are also able to fit vaginal pessaries, if required. Conservative management strategies involve helping you to change your habits, with the aim of ensuring your prolapse does’nt worsen.

Our physiotherapists also see women pre-operatively, before prolapse surgery, within hospital and after surgery to ensure their recovery is optimal.

Our Connected Care Approach

With our unique ‘Connected Care’ approach, our team will expertly help you to prepare for your surgery, provide you with physiotherapy during your hospital stay and while you heal and return to normal activity after surgery. You can connect with your physio in hospital, in our clinics and during our online video consultations.

What to Expect From my Appointment?

• Detailed Interview to fully understand your symptoms, medical and surgical history and your specific goals.
• Physical Assessment of your body, and pelvic floor using the latest technologies.
• Targeted Treatments including Diagnostic Transperineal Ultrasound to facilitate pelvic floor muscle activation, manual therapy, pessary fitting and comprehensive advice and education.
• Progressive Exercise Program to assist you not only with your pelvic floor strength and endurance, but with your general fitness, health and well-being.
• Communication and Collaboration with your Urologist, Gynaecologist and General Practitioner to keep them informed of your progress and to support your care.