Occurs when part of the pelvic organs descends into the front, back or sides of the vaginal wall.

Different types of Prolapse:

• Apical: descent of the uterus/cervix through the vagina (can commonly happen post-partum)
• Anterior: front of vaginal wall is pushed down by the bladder and/or urethra (also called a cystocele or cystourethrocele)
• Posterior: back of vaginal wall is pushed down by the rectum (also called rectocele)
• Perineal Descent Syndrome: the perineum “balloons” downward when coughing/ sneezing or straining (either with a bowel movement, or lifting something very heavy while holding your breath)
• Rectal Prolapse: rectal tissue prolapses through the rectum

Symptoms

• Heaviness or a feeling of falling out in the perineum.
• Pressure or pain in the pelvis and/or low back
• Increased frequency and/or urgency to urinate
• Dribbling after feeling like you are finished voiding
• A feeling of incomplete emptying after going to the washroom
• Straining to release stool, which may be associated with incomplete evacuation

Grading of Severity

Can check this on your own by using a mirror when standing or lying on your back, or by manually checking by inserting one or two fingers into vagina.  May have to bear down (cough , sneeze, or initiate a bowel movement) while checking to see or feel if there is anything descending in the vagina.

• Grade 1: (mild) slight descent, not visible at vaginal opening
• Grade 2: (moderate), visible at vaginal opening
• Grade 3: (severe), visible at vaginal opening, and protrudes out from here
• Procidentia: complete prolapse of the uterus

How Angela Simpson Physiotherapy can help you:

• Perform an external and possibly internal pelvic floor exam to determine if a prolapse is present, and the type and severity.
• Teach you techniques to help control and possibly correct for the prolapse
• Educate you about what can make a prolapse get better or worse over time