Prolapsed uterus (2024)

Summary

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  • Uterine prolapse occurs when weakened or damaged muscles and connective tissues such as ligaments allow the uterus to drop into the vagina.
  • Common causes include pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal changes after menopause, obesity, severe coughing and straining on the toilet.
  • Treatment options include pelvic floor exercises, vaginal pessaries and surgery.

On this page

  • Symptoms of prolapse of the uterus
  • Degrees of uterine prolapse
  • Causes of uterine prolapse
  • Treatments for uterine prolapse
  • Pelvic floor exercises
  • Prevention techniques
  • Where to get help

The uterus (womb) is an organ of the female reproductive system. It is shaped like an upside down pear and is located inside the pelvis. The uterus, bladder and bowel are supported by a hammock of muscles located between the tailbone (coccyx) and the pubic bone within the pelvis. These muscles are known as the pelvic floor, or the levator ani muscles. Ligaments and connective tissue also suspend the uterus and pelvic organs in place. If these muscles or connective tissues are weakened or damaged, the uterus can drop down into the vagina. This is known as prolapse.

Common causes of uterine prolapse include vaginal childbirth, obesity, severe coughing, straining on the toilet and hormonal changes after menopause which can damage the pelvic organ support structures. First line treatment should include pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises, taught by a pelvic floor physiotherapist.

A pessary can be inserted to support the uterus and reduce the symptoms associated with the prolapse. Pelvic floor exercises are still helpful when a pessary is in place. Surgery may be needed in severe cases.

Symptoms of prolapse of the uterus

The symptoms of uterine prolapse include:

  • a sensation of heaviness and pressure in the vagina
  • a distinct lump or bulge within the vagina
  • a bulge protruding out of the vagina
  • painful sexual intercourse.

Degrees of uterine prolapse

Uterine prolapse is described in stages, indicating how far it has descended. Other pelvic organs (such as the bladder or bowel) may also be prolapsed into the vagina.,. The four categories of uterine prolapse are:

  • Stage I – the uterus is in the upper half of the vagina
  • Stage II – the uterus has descended nearly to the opening of the vagina
  • Stage III – the uterus protrudes out of the vagina
  • Stage IV – the uterus is completely out of the vagina.

Causes of uterine prolapse

The pelvic floor and associated supporting connective tissues can be weakened or damaged in many ways including:

  • pregnancy, especially in the case of multiple births (such as twins or triplets), or multiple pregnancies
  • vaginal childbirth, especially if the baby was large or delivered quickly, or if there was a prolonged pushing phase
  • obesity
  • straining on the toilet to pass a bowel motion
  • low levels of the sex hormone oestrogen after menopause
  • severe coughing associated with conditions such as chronic bronchitis or asthma
  • fibroids
  • in rare cases, pelvic tumour.

Treatments for uterine prolapse

Treatments for uterine prolapse include surgical and non-surgical options, the choice of which will depend on general health, the severity of the condition and plans for a future pregnancy. Treatment options include:

  • pelvic floor exercises
  • vaginal pessary
  • vaginal surgery.

Pelvic floor exercises

Stage I and II uterine prolapse in particular can be helped by pelvic floor muscle exercises, but they need to be done correctly and practised long enough to strengthen the muscles. Although the following information may give you some ideas about how to do PF exercises, it is imperative to seek professional help from a pelvic floor physiotherapist if you have a prolapse.

Familiarising yourself with the muscles of the vagina, urethra and anus gives you a better chance of performing the exercises correctly.

To identify your pelvic floor muscles, try the following:

  • Insert one or two fingers into the vagina and try to squeeze them.
  • Imagine you are passing urine, and try to stop the flow midstream (do not do this while urinating).
  • Squeeze the muscles inside the anus as if you are trying to stop yourself from breaking wind.

Consult with your doctor or pelvic floor physiotherapist to ensure correct performance.

You can perform these exercises lying down, sitting or standing. Ideally, aim for five or six sessions every day while you are learning the exercises. After you have a good understanding of how to do the exercises, three sessions each day is enough.

Before you start, direct your attention to your pelvic floor muscles. Try to relax your abdominal muscles, buttocks and leg muscles. Don’t bear down or hold your breath. Squeeze and lift the urethra, vagina and anus and hold the tension for three seconds if you can. Release completely. Then perform the exercises, which include:

  • Squeeze slowly and lift and hold as strongly as you can for 5 to 10 seconds while breathing normally. Release slowly. Repeat up to 10 times. Relax for 5 to 10 seconds between each one.
  • Perform quick, short, strong squeezes. Repeat 10 times.
  • Remember to squeeze and lift the muscles whenever you cough, sneeze, laugh or lift anything.

It’s okay to feel your lower abdomen gently tightening as you hold the pelvic floor muscle contraction.

Vaginal pessary

A pessary is a flexible device which can be fitted into the vagina to support the uterus. There are different shapes and sizes of pessary, which can be prescribed and fitted by a suitably trained health professional. Women can be taught to remove and re-insert their pessary much like a tampon. However, regular reviews with your gynaecologist or doctor are necessary.

Vaginal pessaries can be an effective way of reducing the symptoms of a prolapse, but they will not be appropriate for everyone. Together with pelvic floor exercises, they may provide a non-surgical solution to manage a uterine prolapse.

Vaginal surgery

In moderate to severe cases, the prolapse may have to be surgically repaired. In laparoscopic surgery, instruments are inserted through the navel. The uterus is pulled back into its correct position and reattached to its supporting ligaments. The operation can also be performed with an abdominal incision.

Surgery may fail and the prolapse can recur if the original cause of the prolapse, such as obesity, coughing or straining, is not addressed. Consult your pelvic floor physiotherapist for help with this.

Prevention techniques

Some women are at increased risk of uterine prolapse. Simple preventive measures include:

  • pregnancy – pelvic floor exercises throughout pregnancy
  • vaginal childbirth – post-partum pelvic floor exercises
  • post-menopause – oestrogen cream to boost flagging hormone levels, and pelvic floor exercises
  • obesity – loss of excess abdominal fat with dietary modifications and regular exercise
  • chronic constipation – it’s ideal if you have big, soft, formed stools. Usually, eating lots of fruit, vegetables and fibre, and drinking plenty of water will help. Avoid straining when using your bowels. Manage chronic constipation in consultation with your doctor
  • other conditions – treat underlying disorders (such as asthma and chronic bronchitis) in consultation with your doctor.

Where to get help

  • Bø K, Hilde G, Stær-Jensen J, et al. 2015, ‘Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training and pelvic organ prolapse – a randomized trial of primiparous women’, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 212, no. 1, 38.e31–37. More information here.
  • Braekken IH, Majida M, Engh ME and Bø K 2010, ‘Can pelvic floor muscle training reverse pelvic organ prolapse and reduce prolapse symptoms? An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial’, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 203, no. 2, 170.e171–177. More information here.
  • Dumoulin C, Hunter KF, Moore K, et al. 2014, ‘Conservative management for female urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse review 2013: Summary of the 5th international consultation on incontinence’, Neurourology and Urodynamics, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 15–20.More information here.
  • Frawley HC, Hagen S, Sherburn M, et al. 2012, ‘Changes in prolapse following pelvic floor muscle training: a randomised controlled trial’, Paper presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the International-Continence-Society (ICS).More information here.
  • Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener C, et al. 2014, ‘Individualised pelvic floor muscle training in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POPPY): a multicentre randomised controlled trial’, Lancet, vol. 383, no. 9919), pp. 796–806.More information here.
  • Kashyap R, Jain V, Singh A 2013, ‘Comparative effect of 2 packages of pelvic floor muscle training on the clinical course of stage I–III pelvic organ prolapse’, International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, vol. 121, no. 1, pp. 69–73 More information here.

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Prolapsed uterus (1)

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Reviewed on: 04-10-2021

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Now, let's dive into the information related to the concepts mentioned in the article about the female reproductive system and uterine prolapse.

Uterine Prolapse

Uterine prolapse occurs when weakened or damaged muscles and connective tissues, such as ligaments, allow the uterus to drop into the vagina. Common causes of uterine prolapse include pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal changes after menopause, obesity, severe coughing, and straining on the toilet .

Symptoms of Uterine Prolapse

The symptoms of uterine prolapse may include a sensation of heaviness and pressure in the vagina, a distinct lump or bulge within the vagina, a bulge protruding out of the vagina, and painful sexual intercourse.

Degrees of Uterine Prolapse

Uterine prolapse is described in stages, indicating how far the uterus has descended. The four categories of uterine prolapse are:

  • Stage I: The uterus is in the upper half of the vagina.
  • Stage II: The uterus has descended nearly to the opening of the vagina.
  • Stage III: The uterus protrudes out of the vagina.
  • Stage IV: The uterus is completely out of the vagina .

Causes of Uterine Prolapse

The pelvic floor and associated supporting connective tissues can be weakened or damaged in various ways, including pregnancy (especially multiple births or multiple pregnancies), vaginal childbirth (especially with a large baby or a quick delivery), obesity, straining on the toilet, low levels of the hormone estrogen after menopause, severe coughing, and pelvic tumors (in rare cases).

Treatments for Uterine Prolapse

Treatment options for uterine prolapse depend on factors such as general health, the severity of the condition, and plans for future pregnancy. Treatment options include pelvic floor exercises, vaginal pessaries, and vaginal surgery. Pelvic floor exercises, taught by a pelvic floor physiotherapist, are recommended as the first-line treatment for stage I and II uterine prolapse. A pessary, a flexible device inserted into the vagina to support the uterus, can be used to reduce symptoms. In moderate to severe cases, surgical repair may be necessary.

Prevention Techniques

Some preventive measures for uterine prolapse include pelvic floor exercises throughout pregnancy, post-partum pelvic floor exercises after vaginal childbirth, the use of estrogen cream to boost hormone levels after menopause, maintaining a healthy weight, managing chronic constipation, and treating underlying disorders such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.

I hope this information helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Prolapsed uterus (2024)
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