The muscles and ligaments in your pelvic floor provide cushioning to your uterus, holding it in place. However, with age and multiple vaginal births, these muscles can weaken. When that happens, your uterus gets no support from your pelvic floor, resulting in it falling down your vagina. 

Although it can happen to any woman, it’s more common in women after menopause and those who have a history of multiple vaginal deliveries. You must see a gynecologist in Ghodbunder Road, Thane to discuss your treatment options. In the meantime, let’s see why it happens, its symptoms, and the most suitable treatment plans.

How Critical is a Uterine Prolapse?

The severity of the prolapse depends on its stage. In the first stage, your uterus has descended to the upper portion of your vagina. Later, it might descend to the lower part until the uterus starts protruding in the third stage. Eventually, it might slip out of your vagina. Uterine prolapse doesn’t cause any serious symptoms in the first stage, but once it has descended below the pelvic floor and entered your vagina, it may cause discomfort. You might have difficulty passing bowel or urine.

Causes and Symptoms of Uterine Prolapse

Uterine prolapse occurs when the muscles in your pelvic floor no longer keep the uterus in place, which might make it sag. Different factors can weaken your pelvic muscles. Here are a few:

  • Pregnancy
  • Menopause
  • Delivering a baby normally and delivering a baby that weighs more than 9 pounds
  • Constipation
  • Excess coughing 
  • Heavy lifting

The condition won’t cause any symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage where you might experience the following:

  • Pressure and pain in your pelvic area
  • Painful intercourse
  • Uterus protruding through your vagina
  • A sudden urge to urinate and frequent urination

These symptoms tend to worsen over time, especially when you strain your pelvic muscles from coughing, sneezing, continuous walking, etc.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Uterine prolapse can be diagnosed with a pelvic exam where the gynecologist will insert an instrument into your vagina to get a clear picture of the uterus and its position. They will check your pelvic area to feel any bulge that might occur because of the uterus moving from its place. They might ask you to cough, sneeze, walk, and hold your pee to determine how weakened your pelvic floor muscles are. 

Non-Surgical Treatment

The treatment for uterine prolapse depends on the severity of the condition, your age, and whether you’d like to conceive in the future. There are non-surgical options, including pelvic muscle exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor, diet and lifestyle changes, and insertion of a device through your vagina that hold your uterus in place.

Surgical Procedure

Hysterectomy is the most preferred solution for uterine prolapse. A hysterectomy specialist in Vasant Vihar Hospital, Thane will make a cut on your abdomen to surgically remove the uterus. The procedure is effective, but you can’t conceive after a hysterectomy. 

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Your healthcare provider might advise you to go for prolapse repair, in which, they will fix the pelvic floor muscles and reattach them to their position so that they can hold your uterus. 

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