You are not alone if you can’t cough, laugh, or sneeze without leaking some urine. Issues with the pelvic floor are pretty common and can happen to anyone. Here is an easy-to-understand guide to everything you need to know about pelvic floor prolapse.

What Is Pelvic Floor Prolapse?

The pelvic floor has muscles and connective tissues that attach to the bones at the bottom of the pelvis.  Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition where the soft tissues and muscles supporting the pelvic organs loosen. In this case, some of the organs drop out or into the vagina.

The condition isn’t life-threatening, but it often leads to pain and discomfort. It can also be embarrassing to talk to a medical practitioner, but the good thing is that it is treatable.

Types of Pelvic Floor Prolapse

Both men and women can experience prolapse, but women have more forms of prolapse that affect their pelvic regions. The major types of prolapse affecting women include:

Uterine Prolapse

This condition occurs after the pelvis muscles and soft tissues weaken. In such instances, the uterus presses or drops into the vagina. In severe cases, it comes out through the vagina’s opening. The symptoms for this condition include:

• Heaviness in the pelvis
• A distinct lump within the vagina
• Lower back pain
• Urine leakage
• Painful sexual intercourse

There are several causes of uterine prolapse, including:

• Pregnancy
• Pelvic tumor
• Low estrogen levels during menopause
• Vaginal birth, especially prolonged pushing and quick delivery
• Obesity
• Straining during bowel movement

Urethrocele

Urethrocele (Anterior wall of the vagina prolapse) often occurs after hysterectomy. It happens because of stretching the bladder’s supportive tissues, causing the bladder to fall into the vagina. As a result, the prolapsed organs swell out of the vagina opening when the condition worsens. This results in pressure and discomfort.

Urethrocele patients also experience urinary frequency and nighttime voiding. It also leads to incontinence, mainly when you exercise, cough, or laugh. You might also experience chronic bladder infections due to improper emptying of the bladder.

Enterocele

Enterocele is the posterior wall prolapse. It occurs when the support tissues between the vagina and rectum stretch from the pelvic bones. Losing the support causes prolapse of the intestines, or the rectum drops into the vagina, thus forming a bulge. It often leads to problems with bowel movement and bulge sensations.

Rectal Prolapse

Both men and women experience this form of prolapse. It occurs when the muscles and tissues within the rectal passage weaken, and the rectum protrudes and falls through the anus. After every bowel movement, you might notice some extensive soft tissue hanging from your anus in the early stages.

With this condition, you might lose control of your bowel, notice some mucus or blood discharge, or experience sharp pains during bowel movements.

Treatment Options for Pelvic Organ Prolapse

There are various treatment solutions for pelvic organ prolapse, including lifestyle changes, vagina pessaries, hormone treatment, pelvic floor exercises, and surgery. The treatment method depends on the patients’ health, age, symptoms severity, and prolapse severity.

However, pelvic floor kegel exercises significantly treat and reverse prolapse conditions. These exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and prevent prolapse from worsening. The exercises also prevent urine from leaking and stop the accidental passing of gas and poop.

Why Are Pelvic Floor Exercises Important?

If you are suffering from prolapse, it’s vital to consult with professional medical practitioners within the shortest time possible. They will assess your condition and recommend the kegel exercises that suit you best. Such professionals design a series of exercises and ensure you do them correctly.

Physiotherapists recommend pelvic floor exercises to:

• Maximize the strength of muscles for prolapse support
• Lift the pelvic floor to be higher within the pelvis
• Maximize the stiffness of the pelvic floor to ensure it is resistant to strain

The pelvic floor exercises help prolapse patients to:

• Minimize pelvic floor prolapse symptoms
• Delay/ prevent prolapse progression
• Enhance bladder control
• Enhance prolapse support after surgery
• Improve bowel emptying

How Effective Are Pelvic Floor Exercises?

Pelvic floor exercises improve symptoms in mild and moderate prolapse instances. At times, they also prevent the organs from falling further. You can start noticing the benefits of the exercises after a few weeks.

It is essential to do the exercises as instructed and do them regularly to increase your chances of success. Doing the exercises routinely prevents the prolapse from reoccurring. You can make them an integral part of your life and witness amazing benefits.

How to Get the Best Out of Pelvic Floor Exercises

One of the best things you can do is perform your exercises when starting your day. You can do them before you get out of bed. At this point, your pelvic floor tissues and muscles are fresh and ready for exercise. You can also perform at least three sets of the exercises over midday or before bedtime to make the most out of the program.

It is also important to choose some anti-gravity positions. That means starting while lying down instead of standing. Anti-gravity positions prevent the prolapse from dragging down, thus making the exercises easier to perform. Some of the best positions include side-lying or kneeling while your weight rests through your forearms.

Mistakes to Avoid

If you want the best results from pelvic floor exercises, there are a few mistakes to avoid, such as:

• Pushing your pelvic floor down instead of lifting it
• Breath-holding rather than breathing normally during the exercises.
• Squeezing your thighs and buttocks, rather than the inner pelvic floor muscles.

In Summary

Pelvic floor prolapse is a common condition affecting a significant number of patients. Luckily, pelvic floor exercises can help reverse the prolapse symptoms and help patients lead a comfortable life. However, it is vital to consult with a certified physiotherapist to recommend the exercises that best suit your needs and lifestyle. If you don’t notice improvements or find it challenging to do the exercises, seek rehabilitation treatment from a certified physiotherapist.