ITQ 2

What Is a Rectal Prolapse?

A rectal prolapse occurs when the connective tissues within the rectal passage loosen and stretch, until they protrude through the anus. As the rectum becomes more prolapsed, ligaments and muscles may weaken until the rectum completely and permanently protrudes out of the body through the anus. This stage is called a complete prolapse, or a full-thickness rectal prolapse. Initially, the rectum may protrude and retract depending on your movements and activities. If the condition remains untreated it may protrude permanently.

The rectum is the final part of the digestive system, which sits just before the anus. It’s the area that holds faeces before you pass a bowel movement. It is made up of rectal wall lining (the mucosa), a layer of strong muscle, and some fatty tissue.

Although rectal prolapses are most common in older women (six times more likely to occur in women over 50 years old than in men of the same age), a rectal...

What Is an Enterocele Prolapse?

An enterocele prolapse occurs when the small bowel (also known as the small intestine) drops down sufficiently enough against the upper wall of the vagina to create a bulge in the vagina. It can slip further, between the rectum and vagina, resulting in discomfort along the back posterior wall of the vagina and causing issues with bowel movements.

The muscles and ligaments that support your small bowel, and other organs within the pelvis, are part of the framework of muscles called the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles can become weak or stretched and therefore become unable to hold everything in the pelvis where it should be. This can result in the small bowel dropping out of its normal position and down into the gap between the muscular walls of the rectum and the vagina.

A enterocele prolapse can be disruptive, embarrassing and inconvenient...

What Is a Cystocele Prolapse?

A cystocele prolapse is when the bladder begins to droop down from its normal position, so much so that it protrudes into the front wall of the vagina, the anterior wall. A prolapse can happen to any organ of the pelvis; the bladder, small bowel, rectum, uterus or even the vagina itself. Any pelvic organ prolapse happens because the muscular system that holds everything in place, the pelvic floor muscles, have weakened.

A cystocele can be inconvenient and embarrassing, but it’s comforting to know that they are very common in women, even if they’re not talked about directly much. You may have heard mum's talk about not being able to go on trampolines or chase their children around the park without leaking. Pregnancy, childbirth and the menopause can all contribute to a weakened pelvic floor but thankfully, performing daily pelvic floor exercises can help prevent, and treat, a cystocele prolapse.

As with...

What Is a Bladder Prolapse?

The bladder is a balloon shaped, muscular bag that sits comfortably within the pelvis as it constantly fills with urine. The muscular front walls of the vagina (anterior walls) and the pelvic area help to support the bladder and hold it in place. If the muscles in the front wall of the vagina loosen and deteriorate too much, then a bladder prolapse can occur, where the bladder falls into the vagina.

A bladder prolapse causes the pressure inside the bladder to increase, causing discomfort and urinary incontinence. We’ve all experienced what it feels like to have a full bladder, with nowhere to empty it, and how it no longer sits comfortably within the pelvis. Urinary incontinence can range from occasional stress urinary incontinence, where women may leak a small amount of urine if they cough or sneeze, to a more severe inability to hold in urine.

A bladder prolapse is...

What is a Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

A Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) is a condition where one or more of the pelvic organs (e.g. uterus, bladder, vagina, rectum) droop from their usual healthy position in a women's pelvis, and fall down towards the vagina.

Muscles, ligaments and skin, in and around the vagina, support and hold the female pelvic organs and tissues in place by acting as a hammock. However, pregnancy, childbirth, ageing, and the menopause, all contribute to the stretching and weakening of these pelvic floor muscles. The result can be a pelvic organ prolapse - where the pelvic organs or even the vagina itself fall out of their normal position. Once one organ begins to droop...

Surgical treatments are reserved for patients who have been unable to relieve the symptoms of their severe prolapse(s) through other means, and as a result their quality of life has significantly dropped. If non-surgical treatments have been unable to give you the relief you need, or you are looking for a quicker resolution from your prolapse and unable to make the commitment to non-surgical lifestyle treatments, then your doctor may discuss surgery with you.

There are several different vaginal repair surgical procedures available which aim to restore normal pelvic functions. Which one your doctor recommends will depend on the type of pelvic organ prolapse you’re experiencing, your health and your lifestyle. Multiple procedures can be completed at once, to repair all prolapses you are experiencing during one operation.

To learn more about pelvic organ prolapses and how they...

1 in 10 women will have had surgery for a prolapse by the time they are 80. So, despite it not being talked about much, pelvic organ prolapses are very common.

Some prolapse diagnoses come as a complete surprise. You may be diagnosed following a routine examination such as a smear test, and not have experienced any symptoms or pelvic discomfort. Or you may have not recognised the symptoms you were feeling as being a result of a prolapse. Such as a dragging sensation in your vagina, or issues with fully emptying your bladder or bowel.

If you have been diagnosed with a pelvic organ prolapse, you will be wondering what to do next:

• Do nothing as a prolapse is not life threatening.
• Treat your prolapse with non-surgical treatments and lifestyle changes.
• Treat your prolapse with surgery and lifestyle changes.

Following a diagnosis...

What is a Rectal Prolapse Repair Surgery?

A rectal prolapse can affect men, women and children. It can occur as a result of weak pelvic floor muscles, allowing the rectum to drop downwards until it can eventually protrude inside out from the anus. The pelvic floor muscles can weaken as a result of many things, including excess body weight, straining due to constipation, or childbirth.

The surgical treatment of a rectal prolapse is similar to that of a pelvic organ prolapse with one significant difference – your surgeon can gain access to the prolapse via the anus / perineum, rather than the vagina.

Is Surgery Right For You?

Although embarrassing, it is important that you seek treatment for your rectal prolapse as early as possible. To avoid it worsening, permanently protruding and causing irreparable nerve damage.

Surgery is usually reserved for...

What Is a Prolapsed Bladder Surgery?

A prolapsed bladder (cystocele) is a common condition where the bladder droops or drops from its position as it is no longer supported by the pelvic floor muscles. As the organ prolapses it begins to push into the front wall of the vagina, causing a noticeable and often painful bulge. To read more about bladder prolapses, visit the Types of Prolapse page.

Surgery is usually the last resort to attempt to resolve a bladder prolapse. Reserved for those that have been unable to relieve their symptoms and reduce the prolapse sufficiently through non-surgical treatments.

If you require surgery for a prolapse, then your surgeon will talk you through the process and your options. As with any medical procedure, it’s a good idea...

A vaginal pessary is a removable device, usually made from body-friendly silicone, latex, vinyl or rubber. It is designed to be worn comfortably inside the vagina to add support where the pelvic floor muscles have become so weak that one or more pelvic organs have prolapsed, or are in danger of prolapsing. It acts as a brace, offering structural support for the pelvic organs. They are often favoured as a long term solution for pelvic organ prolapses, where surgery is not suitable and/or future children are wanted. They can also be used as a temporary measure before a prolapse repair surgery to relieve symptoms, and are often so successful that surgery is no longer desired.

If you think you might be experiencing a pelvic organ prolapse, as with all medical conditions it is important that you talk to your doctor as early as possible.

Recovering from Enterocele (Small Bowel) Prolapse Surgery: Beverley's Story