Prolapse: the physio guide
Have you been told you have a prolapse?
Prolapse is extremely common, in fact it’s estimated that in Australia over half of women that have had more than one child have some form of prolapse.
Whilst prolapse doesn’t get better on its own, there are treatments and supports available out there to help! Here is my guide to how physiotherapy can support you on your journey to managing your prolapse.
What is a prolapse?
A prolapse (pelvic organ prolapse or POP) is when part of the vagina walls or the uterus itself, extends into the vagina. This could mean that you can see or feel a lump or a bulge from the outside, but not all the time. Sometimes the only sign of a prolapse is a feeling of heaviness, dragging or pressure around the lower tummy.
There are 3 main types of prolapse:
Anterior vaginal wall POP:
- AKA cystocele or bladder prolapse
- This is where the front wall of the vagina (or the bladder wall) pushes into the vaginal space
Posterior vaginal wall POP:
- AKA rectocele or bowel prolapse
- This is where the back wall of the vagina (or the bowel wall) pushes into the vaginal space
Uterine POP:
- This is where the uterus descends downwards into the vaginal space.
- Usually involves a component of all 3 types of prolapse
How can a physio help me?
A pelvic health physiotherapist has extra training in the pelvic floor, and is able to provide you with tailored advice regarding your prolapse.
This includes:
- A thorough history taking to determine if any factors might be making the prolapse worse. These might be things like straining on the toilet, holding off going to the toilet for too long, a physical job with lots of heavy lifting, and many more.
- A physical examination, which may include an internal examination (if you are happy to have one). An internal exam is gold standard for correctly grading your prolapse, so we can tell you exactly what is happening inside and how to treat it.
What are the treatment options?
To make sure you get the correct treatment for your prolapse, it is really important to get assessed. This is because the treatment options for POP depend on the type you have.
In general, the options are as follows:
- Do nothing. You don’t have to do anything about it if you don’t want to.
- Do your pelvic floor exercises! Doing pelvic floor exercises is really important to assist in supporting the pelvic organs, and can reduce the symptoms of heaviness, pain and dragging.
- See your GP or urogynae or gynaecologist: they may suggest topical oestrogen, silicone pessaries or in advanced cases surgery.
If you’re unsure about your symptoms, or would like tailored advice, see a women’s or pelvic health physiotherapist for an individualised assessment, or visit your GP or gynaecologist.
If you’re in Lilydale or the Yarra Valley and in need of a women’s & pelvic health physio, click here to make an appointment!
