Kelvin W. Mwangi

Description: Experiencing pressure and discomfort around your pelvic region? You may be facing Prolapse! Read on to learn the meaning of prolapse, its causes and the commonly affected organs. Prolapse: Meaning, Causes And Commonly Affected Organs Are you experiencing a bulging sensation in your vagina or rectum, pressure and discomfort around your pelvic region, stress while urinating, or trouble with bowel movements? You may be dealing with a common condition called Prolapse. Prolapse can affect anyone, both women and men (although it’s rare in the latter). According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, 1 in every 3 women faces prolapse at least once in their lifetime. It’s a fact that might astonish you, but it’s also a reminder that you’re not alone! So, don’t worry about the condition as it’s also easily treatable! In today’s post, we’ll take a deeper look in the meaning of Prolapse, its causes, and the commonly affected organs. By the end of this blog, you’ll: Have an improved understanding of the condition and its causes Be better equipped to handle/manage Prolapse confidently and effectively Have better ability to identify the symptoms of Prolapse Make informed decisions on your treatment options So, are you ready to be more knowledgeable about Prolapse? Keep reading! Meaning of Prolapse Prolapse is the descent or a downward dislocation of an organ from its normal position. This disposition happens due to the weakening or loosening of the tissues or muscles holding the organ in place. There are different types of Prolapse as expanded in the table below. Type of Prolapse Definition Affected Organ Uterine Prolapse It occurs when the pelvic floor weakens and sags, unable to support the uterus causing it to slip into the vaginal canal. Uterus Bowel Prolapse Also referred to as rectocele, it happens when the rectum presses against the wall of the vagina because of weakened muscles between the two organs. Bowel Small Intestine Prolapse (Enterocele) Small intestines bulges into the vaginal walls. Small Intestines Bladder Prolapse (Cystocele) Bladder bulges into the walls of the vagina. Bladder Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) It’s the most common, and it’s when any organ in the pelvis bulges into the vagina due to weak pelvic muscles and ligaments. Organs in the Pelvis Rectal Prolapse Rectum pushes outside the body through the anus Rectum Vaginal Prolapse Refers to any type of prolapse that involves the vagina. Any organ that bulges into the vagina (alt text) What are the Signs & Symptoms of Vaginal Prolapse? List them here Note: All types of Prolapse need treatment, and the kind of treatment will depend on the severity of the condition plus the patient’s symptoms. 9 Most Common Causes of Prolapse The most common causes of Prolapse include: 1. Aging 2. Pregnancy and Childbirth 3. Menopause 4. Heavy lifting 5. Genetics/Hereditary 6. Chronic coughing 7. Obesity 8. Hysteroctomy 9. Chronic Constipation The table below breaks them down. Cause Description Aging Aging weakens levators (the muscles responsible of raising and supporting the pelvic floor) which causing sagging and excess space in the pelvis leading to slipping of pelvic organs towards the vagina. Pregnancy and Childbirth -During pregnancy, the body produces more of hormones progesterone and cortisol which causes the uterine walls to relax. The relaxation may result to a prolapse. -Childbirth, especially through the vagina, stretches, strains and weakens the pelvic floor muscles (especially if you had a challenging delivery or gave birth to multiple babies) which can cause prolapse. Menopause During menopause, women experience a high decrease in their estrogen levels. This causes the weakening of the pelvis muscles and ligaments, plus thinning of the vagina walls. This increases the chances of POP–pelvis organ bulging into the vagina. Heavy lifting Repeated heavy weight lifting takes a tool on the strength of your pelvis muscles and ligaments. A weak pelvis floor is unable to contain it’s organs within it so they slip downwards into the vagina. Genetics/Hereditary According to VoicesforPDF.org, POP is hereditary. Meaning, if someone in your family experienced prolapse, you may be at risk of going through the same. It’s best to get checked often by a specialist to ensure you have no abnormal collagen metabolism which weakens the pelvis support muscles, causing POP. Chronic coughing Severe coughing exerts excess pressure in the abdomen which weakens the pelvic muscles over time. Therefore, if you have conditions like asthma or bronchitis, it’s best to get them treated before they make you prolapse. Obesity Excess weight subjects you to excess intra-abdominal pressure which strains on your pelvic muscles. This weakens the pelvic floor, causing prolapse. Hysterectomy If you’ve had your uterus operated on, it may affect the pelvic floor tissues, nerves and blood vessels making it weak to support the pelvic organs within it. This increase the risk of a prolapse. Chronic Constipation If you’re experiencing severe straining to pass out stool, your pelvic tissues are under heavy pressure which may result to tissue damage. This increases your chances of having a prolapse. Prolapse Commonly Affected Organs Below are the most commonly affected organs by prolapse. Rectum The rectum is the outermost part of the colon which serves as temporary storage for stool. It can be affected by prolapse if there are strains during bowel movements. The straining weakens the pelvic muscles causing a rectal prolapse – where the rectum bulges into the vagina. Common symptoms of rectal prolapse include, difficulty during defecation, rectal discomfort & pain, and a feeling like your rectum is chock-full. The remedy for rectal prolapse is pelvic muscle exercise and improving your bowel habits­–avoid straining when defecating. However, if the condition is severe, a surgery may be performed to repair the damaged pelvic ligaments and muscles to enhance their ability to support the rectum. Uterus The Uterus, also known as the womb is located below the berry of a woman and sandwiched between the rectum and the bladder. It plays the vital role of supporting and nourishing the development of a fetus before delivery. Uterus is also a victim of a prolapse called the uterine prolapse. Uterine prolapse occurs when pelvic floor muscles are loosened and weakened by pregnancy, child delivery, aging or menopause. This results to the uterus bulging into the vagina. Common symptoms of uterine prolapse include rectal urgency (urge to defecate), the feeling of something about to come out of your vaginal, discomfort during sexual intercourse, unintentional passing of urine (urinary incontinence), or a persistent low back pain making it hard to urinate or move your bowels. The treatment for uterine prolapse is pelvic floor muscle exercise like Kegels, and lifestyle changes i.e. avoid heavy lifting. If your prolapse is extreme, a surgery to repair the pelvic muscles is necessary. Bladder The bladder is located in the lower abdomen and sits on the pelvic floor. It temporarily stores urine until it’s appropriate to dispose of it. The bladder is affected by prolapse when it bulges into vaginal due to a condition known as cystocele (bladder prolapse). Cystocele happens when the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments are enfeebled by childbirth, aging, menopause or even pregnancy, letting the bladder slip down into the vagina. The treatment for this condition is Kegel exercises that re-strengthen the pelvic floor muscles along with necessary lifestyle changes like avoiding heavy weight lifting. But, if cystocele is in a severe stage, a surgery must be conducted to repair the pelvic floor damaged tissues and ligaments. Vagina The vagina is located between the bladder and the rectum. It’s the opening where urine passes through and babies are born. The vagina is a victim of prolapse when its top (the vaginal vault) loosens and falls into the vaginal canal. This may be due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause or aging. Common symptoms of vaginal prolapse include a dragging uneasiness inside your vagina, and the feeling or something coming out of it. The remedy is re-strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through exercises and avoiding heavy lifting among other lifestyle changes. Other people also use pessary, an object inserted into the vagina to increase firmness around the vagina walls. Small Intestine Small intestines are located in the stomach and aid in food digestion and nutrients intake. It’s affected by prolapse in a condition known as Enterocele (small intestine prolapse). Small intestine prolapse is caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles which cause the small intestines to bulge into the vagina after descending into the lower pelvic cavity. The symptoms include incontinence and trouble having a bowel movement. The remedy is to avoid straining during bowel movement and Kegel exercises. Surgery is the last resort just in case your prolapse is in a severe condition. Can Periods Cause Prolapse? Yes. Heavy menstrual bleeding may cause excessive expansion and stretching of the uterus and vaginal walls adding more pressure to the pelvic floor muscles. This can contribute to a pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Luckily, using nixit menstrual cup, which is flexible and ultra-comfortable can lower the straining that occurs during periods, hence preventing prolapse. The disc-style menstrual cup is inserted into the vagina to collect the blood allowing you to avoid straining during bowel movements unlike when using tampons. If you are in the prolapse healing process, our menstrual cup provides a sustainable, painless and strain-free solution. It fits snugly into the vagina without expanding, unlike tampons which need to, to absorb the blood, hence reducing pressure which could damage the pelvic muscles. If you’re new to the world of nixit comfortable periods, you may be wondering how you’ll be maintaining your vagina and the menstrual cup in a clean and safe condition. But, we’re way ahead of you! We offer you a nixit menstrual cup cleanser & vaginal wash, a 100% natural foaming cleanser, to keep your vulva and the menstrual cup nice and clean. It’s important to know that one of the lifestyle improvements one needs to make when dealing with prolapse, especially during periods, is maintaining cleanliness. Other than that, avoid any activity that exerts excessive pressure to your pelvis region, and lookout for any prolapse signs and symptoms for early treatment. And, if you're still unsure about your symptoms, it's always best to consult with a healthcare professional to get a proper diagnosis.