Articles on women’s health,
from periods to menopause.
First published
Content last modified June 2022
Have you ever felt like your vagina has fallen out of place or has changed in shape? It could possibly be a condition called vaginal prolapse.
Small levels of vagina prolapse may not show any signs or symptoms, large levels may create a noticeable bulge of tissue through the vaginal opening but a severe posterior vaginal prolapse might require surgical repair.
Vaginal prolapse is fairly common. More than one-third of women will have some type of pelvic area prolapse during their lifetime.
You’re more likely to experience a vaginal prolapse in life, especially if you have had multiple pregnancies with a vaginal birth.
This article will help you understand the causes, types, symptoms, risk factors, and preventive measures you can take.
Vaginal prolapse, also known as uterine prolapse or rectocele is a condition where the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments stretch and weaken and are no longer able to provide enough support for the uterus.
As a result of this, the uterus slips down or protrudes out of the vagina.
Your vagina is one of the many organs in your pelvic area that are supported by muscles and tissues. This supportive structure can weaken over time due to various reasons and cause the organs to sag.
It can happen to women of all ages but is mostly found in postmenopausal women who’ve had one or more vaginal deliveries.
Some of the common causes of vaginal prolapse can include childbirth, surgery, menopause, aging, extreme physical activities, and hereditary factors.
Image awaiting migration
In terms of what a prolapse looks like, it can differ according to the type of prolapse you may be facing which we will discuss in a later section.
Vaginal prolapse can be identified by yourself or when you have your smear test.
A typical prolapse will have a soft bulge of vaginal tissue protruding out through the vaginal opening
Image awaiting migration
In most situations, you may not feel any signs or symptoms of vaginal prolapse. Some of the symptoms that are usually found in other cases are:
Insert 1 or 2 fingers and place them over the front vaginal wall (facing the bladder) to feel any bulging under your fingers, first with strong coughing and then with sustained bearing down.
A definite bulge of the wall under your fingers indicates a front vaginal wall prolapse.
Some of the common factors that can put you at a higher risk of attaining vaginal prolapse are:
The top of the vagina drops down into the vaginal canal. This usually occurs in women who have removed their uterus.
The uterus bulges or slips into the vagina and may even be visible through the vaginal opening.
Cystocele is a type of vaginal prolapse in which the bladder drops into the vagina.
The tube that carries urine (urethra) bulges into the vagina.
The rectum bulges into or out of the vagina.
The small intestine bulges against the back wall of the vagina.
Image awaiting migration
Image awaiting migration
To reduce your risk of having vaginal prolapse, follow these few tips
Treatment can vary according to the severity or complexity of your prolapse. In most situations, the preventive measures mentioned above will help to lower the condition and cure it.
Other treatment methods include both surgical and nonsurgical methods.
If the prolapse is left untreated - over time, it may stay the same or slowly get worse.
In rare cases, severe prolapse can cause obstruction of the kidneys or urinary retention. This may lead to kidney damage or infection.
Vaginal prolapse can happen again even after treatment, however, most treatment procedures provide promising results.
Vagina prolapse is very common among women, and it has been more important than ever to follow a healthy lifestyle and make the right choices for your body and health.
To better align with the tips and measures mentioned above, you can easily download the free Elara Care app to get personalized information and guides that can help you stay healthy and active each and every day
Founder of Elara Care and O.A. Dip. Certified Women's Health Practitioner, Jas is working to create better solutions for women since 2018, sharing her struggles and experiences with female health
Full profile and articles ↗
