It’s always good when your internal organs are in their proper places, giving them space to do what they do without interference from neighboring structures. With pelvic organ prolapse (POP), the opposite is happening — organs in your pelvis shift downward due to a loss of support in your pelvic floor.
Pelvic organ prolapse affects up to half of women, though only about 3% report symptoms. These women tend to be in their 50s, 60s, and beyond because the prevalence of POP increases with age. So, it makes sense that the prevalence of symptoms also increases as the condition worsens.
Like many health conditions, early intervention for pelvic organ prolapse can be very beneficial, which is why Dr. Ulas Bozdogan at Advanced Endometriosis Center is highlighting a few of the more common side effects of POP here.
Different types of POP can affect different organs. The most common types include:
It’s not uncommon that the downward shift of one organ can also cause a shift in another, so you may have POP in more than one organ.
The primary cause of POP is a weakening in your pelvic floor — the group of soft tissues that creates a net under your pelvic organs. Far and away, the biggest culprit behind pelvic floor dysfunction stems from aging and menopause, with pregnancy and childbirth also accounting for some of the burden. Obesity can also be a big risk factor when it comes to POP.
Now let’s get into some of the more common complaints when it comes to POP, which include:
If your pelvic organ prolapse involves your urinary system, you may encounter different issues with urination, such as:
Outside of urinary issues, you might also develop fecal incontinence or, on the other end of the spectrum, chronic constipation.
Many women with symptomatic POP report pelvic pain or a feeling of fullness in their lower abdomen. The discomfort is often felt in the lower back too.
When you experience POP, organs are shifting down into your vagina, which can create problems with sexual intercourse. Many women cite dyspareunia as a symptom, which is the medical term for painful sex.
As POP progresses, organs can protrude outside your vagina, forcing you to push them back in.
The good news is that there are many great solutions for pelvic organ prolapse. During its earliest stages — and as a preventive tool — we strongly recommend doing regular pelvic floor exercises called Kegels. In many cases, these exercises can strengthen your pelvic floor enough to re-establish support for your pelvic organs.
If the prolapse advances anyway, we can insert a pessary, a support system that will draw your organs back up.
In severe cases of POP, surgery might be your best answer. Each year in the United States, about 200,000 pelvic organ prolapse surgeries are performed and Dr. Bozdogan certainly contributes to this number. Using minimally invasive surgical techniques whenever possible, Dr. Bozdogan repositions your pelvic organs and strengthens your pelvic floor with a mesh.
To figure out which approach is best for your pelvic organ prolapse, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bozdogan today online or over the phone. We have offices in New York City and Paramus, New Jersey.
