Vaginal Prolapse Treatment

Most vaginal prolapses gradually worsen and can only be fully corrected with surgery. However, the type of treatment that is appropriate to treat a vaginal prolapse depends on factors such as the cause and severity of the prolapse, whether the woman is sexually active, and the woman’s treatment preference. Nonsurgical options may be most appropriate for women who are not sexually active, cannot undergo surgery because of medical reasons, or experience few or no symptoms associated with the condition. Surgrical repair is the treatment option that most sex ually active women who develop a vaginal prolapse choose because the procedure is usually effective.

Vaginal Prolapse Self-Help

Treatments at home for vaginal prolapse include one or a combination of the following:

Activity modification: For a vaginal prolapse that causes minor or no symptoms, the doctor may recommend activity modification such as avoiding heavy lifting or straining.

Pessary: A pessary is a small device, usually made of vinyl, that is placed within the vagina for support. Pessaries come in several varieties. This nonsurgical treatment option may be the most appropriate for women who are not sexually active, cannot have surgery, or plan to have surgery but need a temporary nonsurgical option until surgery can be performed (for example, women who are pregnant or in poor health). Pessaries must be removed and cleaned at regular intervals to prevent infection. Some pessaries are designed to allow the woman to do this herself.Oestrogen cream is commonly used along with a pessary to help prevent infection and vaginal wall erosion. Some women find that pessaries are uncomfortable or that they easily fall out.

Kegel exercises: These are exercises used to tighten the muscles of the pelvic floor. Kegel exercises might be used to treat mild-to-moderate cases of vaginal prolapse or to supplement other treatments for prolapses that are more serious.

Vaginal Prolapse Medical Treatment

Many women with a vaginal prolapse may benefit from estrogen replacement therapy. Estrogen helps strengthen and maintain muscles in the vagina. As with hormone therapy for other indications, the benefits and risks of estrogen therapy must be weighed for each individual patient

Vaginal Prolapse Medications

Hormone (Oestrogen) replacement therapy (HRT) may be used to help the body strengthen the muscles in and around the vagina. This is because women’s bodies stop creating oestrogen naturally after menopause, and the muscles of the vagina may weaken as a result. In mild cases of vaginal prolapse, oestrogen may be prescribed in an attempt to reverse vaginal prolapse symptoms, such as vaginal weakening and incontinence. For more severe prolapses, oestrogen replacement therapy may be used along with other types of treatment

Vaginal Prolapse Surgery

A generalized weakness of the vaginal muscles and ligaments is much more likely to develop than are isolated defects. If a woman develops symptoms of one type of vaginal prolapse, she is likely to have or develop other types as well. Therefore, a thorough physical examination is necessary for the surgeon to detail what surgical steps are necessary to correct the vaginal prolapse completely. The typical surgical strategy is to correct all vaginal weaknesses at once.

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves slender instruments and advanced camera systems. This surgical technique is becoming more common for securing the vaginal vault after a hysterectomy and correcting some types of vaginal prolapse such as enteroceles or uterine prolapses.

Vaginal vault prolapse: This is a defect that occurs high in the vagina, so it may entail a surgical approach through the vagina or abdomen. Generally, the abdomen is the entry of choice for a severe vaginal vault prolapse. The surgical correction of this condition usually involves a technique called a vaginal vault suspension, in which the surgeon attaches the vagina to strong tissue in the pelvis or to a bone called the sacrum, which is located at the base of the spine.

Prolapsed uterus: For women who are postmenopausal or do not want to have more children, a prolapsed uterus is usually corrected with a hysterectomy. The common approach for this procedure is through the vagina (vaginal hysterectomy) .

Cystocele and rectocele: These are corrected through the vagina. Cystocele is usually corrected by anterior vaginal repair, but other operations exist to also correct this. Rectocele is commonly treated surgically by posterior vaginal repair. Typically, the surgeon makes an incision in the vaginal wall and pushes up the organ. The surgeon then secures the vaginal wall to secure the organ in its normal position. Any excess tissue is then removed, and the vaginal wall is closed. If urinary incontinence is present, the surgeon may need to support the urethra. This usually involves a procedure called a bladder neck suspension. Women who undergo surgery for vaginal prolapse repair should normally expect to spend 1-4 days in the hospital depending on the type and extent of surgery involved. After surgery, women are usually advised to avoid heavy lifting.

Vaginal Prolapse Other Therapy

Physical therapy such as electrical stimulation and biofeedback may be used to help strengthen the muscles in the pelvis.

Electrical stimulation: A physiotherapist can apply a probe to targeted muscles within the vagina or on the pelvic floor. The probe is hooked up to a device that measures and delivers small electrical currents that contract the muscles. These contractions help strengthen the muscles. A less intrusive type of electrical stimulation is available that magnetically stimulates the nerve that supplies the pelvic floor muscles from outside the body. This activates these and may help treat incontinence.

Biofeedback: A sensor is used to monitor muscle activity in the vagina and on the pelvic floor. The doctor can recommend exercises that the woman can use to strengthen these muscles. In some cases, these exercises may help strengthen the muscles enough to reverse or relieve some symptoms related to vaginal prolapse. The sensor can monitor the muscular contractions during the exercises, and the doctor may be able to determine if the targeted muscles would benefit from the exercises