Prolapse Surgery Q & A
What is pelvic organ prolapse?
Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the pelvic floor – a network of tissues and muscle – weakens to the point it can no longer do its job. The pelvic floor is supposed to support all the pelvic organs, including the uterus,
bladder, and rectum. When it fails, however, these organs can bulge down into and even out of the vagina.
Pelvic organ prolapse is often very uncomfortable and can cause pain. Common symptoms include:
- The sensation of a bulge at the vaginal opening
- Trouble emptying the bladder completely
- Pain during intercourse
- Pressure in the pelvis or lower back that can be painful
- Urinary incontinence
- Trouble completing bowel movements
- Vaginal bleeding
What causes pelvic organ prolapse?
A number of factors can affect the way your pelvic floor performs. Some of the most common causes of pelvic organ prolapse include the following.
Vaginal childbirth
Bearing a child vaginally puts a great deal of strain on your pelvic floor. The more children you have vaginally and the larger the child, the greater your risk for pelvic organ prolapse.
Abdomen pressure
Anything that puts continuing pressure on your abdomen, including being overweight, straining during bowel movements, and recurring coughing, can weaken your pelvic floor.
Aging
Over time, the muscle in your pelvic floor weakens. As a result, as you age, your likelihood of pelvic organ prolapse increases. This is thanks, at least in part, to decreases in estrogen during menopause.
What is prolapse surgery?
There is good news about pelvic organ prolapse. Thanks to our physicians' extensive expertise, we can offer minimally invasive prolapse surgery. During this procedure – technically known as a da Vinci® sacrocolpopexy
– a surgeon uses a robot-assisted surgical device to repair the pelvic floor with only a few very small incisions in the abdomen.
Talk with the experienced team at Texas Urogynecology & Laser Surgery Center to correct your pelvic organ prolapse with a safe and effective treatment that minimizes your downtime. Using the most innovative treatments
and backed by extensive experience, they can offer you the ideal solution to pelvic organ prolapse.
For more information on prolapse surgery or to schedule a consultation, call or book your appointment online today.