Has something fallen out? Can you feel a bulge coming out of your vagina?

Our pelvic organs are held in place by ligaments and bands of tissue called fascia. As females go through different life stages, the fascia begins to stretch and one or some of the pelvic organs may start to drop down into the vagina.

The causes of prolapse will vary between individuals; it can occur suddenly or could gradually build up over time.

There are different types of prolapse, but also women can have a combination of prolapses. Thus symptoms will be different as well. Some women will have a prolapse but don’t have any symptoms at all.

Common causes of prolapse are:

• Pregnancy and delivering naturally with or without the assistance of certain devices such as forceps
• Occasions where there are repeated or frequent changes in pressures in the abdominal region such as constipation and straining, repetitive lifting
• Chronic coughing with asthma, smoking or any respiratory disease
• Menopause and age secondary to oestrogen level changes
• Previous gynaecological surgery in the abdominal area

A prolapse can present in a few different ways. You may notice:

• A sensation of heaviness or a dragging sensation in the pelvic area
• Or you are able to feel a lump in the vaginal area?
• A sense of incomplete emptying with the bladder or changing urine flow
• Incomplete emptying of the bowels or constipation
• Bladder or bowel urgency and/or incontinence
• Lower back ache
  
  

Our pelvic floor muscles provide support for our pelvic organs. Thus it is important that we strengthen and maintain the pelvic floor strength to be able to manage the symptoms. Pelvic floor physiotherapy could help give you an exercise program and provide advice to minimise the impact of prolapse.