There are moments in the life of every woman, either due to hormonal changes such as those that occur during menopause or pregnancy, in which the support mechanisms of the pelvic floor, may suffer alterations to a greater or lesser extent, causing a descent of the pelvic organs and consequently, urinary and fecal incontinence or discomfort at the pelvic level.
What is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is made up of a series of anatomical structures: bones, nerves, connective tissue, muscles, which support the pelvic organs (bladder, womb, rectum).
When this structure is weakened, some of these organs may descend, this descent has been called pelvic floor prolapse.
What types of prolapse are there?
Anterior compartment: Bladder (cystocele), urethra (urethrocele).
Middle compartment: prolapsed womb.
Posterior compartment: straight (rectocele).
Causes
Personal factors, vaginal delivery, constipation, sports practices that require abdominal pressure, obesity, smoking, pelvic radiotherapy and radical surgeries for gynecological cancer treatment.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms are:
- Feeling of weight
- Discomfort during relationships
- Lumbar pain
- Frequent urination, difficulty in urination.
- Urinary Incontinence
- Constipation
How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis is established by assessing the symptoms and the degree of involvement of the woman and her quality of life and by gynecological examination to establish the type and degree of prolapse.
Treatment of pelvic floor prolapse
It is considered that 70% of pelvic prolapses they are mild and can be treated with conservative remedies such as physiotherapy. In severe cases of prolapse of the uterus and vagina, the treatment is surgery. The goal of the different types of surgery is to return the vagina and uterus to their original position in the pelvis.
If you want more information about the pelvic floor, visit this article at our blog.
Dr. Dolores Ojeda
