Pelvic Organ Prolapse: What Choice Do I Have? – MM1605
Pelvic organ prolapse is a common, distressing and disabling condition encountering increasing incidences with advancing age, menopause and parity. It is the downward descent of female pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus or post-hysterectomy vaginal cuff and the small or large bowel, resulting in protrusion of the vagina, uterus, or both.
Prolapse development is multifactorial, with vaginal delivery, hysterectomy, chronic straining, normal ageing and abnormalities of connective tissue or connective-tissue repair predisposing some women to disruption, stretching, or dysfunction of the levator ani complex, connective-tissue attachments of the vagina, or both, resulting in prolapse. Many women with pelvic organ prolapse are asymptomatic and do not need treatment. When prolapse is symptomatic, options include observation, pessary use and surgery.
Modern Medicine – May 2016
