Best Doctors for Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Dallas-Fort Worth
Pelvic Prolapse Feels Pretty Awful
It can be scary when you first notice it—an uncomfortable bulge protruding from your vagina. It’s a tell-tale sign of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Many women have to push the bulge back into their vagina to urinate or have a bowel movement. It can be uncomfortable just sitting. You may have vaginal pain or pressure, bleeding or spotting and urinary incontinence. Consultation with our best doctors for pelvic organ prolapse can provide effective treatment options tailored to your specific needs.
What Causes Pelvic Prolapse?
Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when tissues that hold the pelvic organs in place become weak or stretched due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, obesity and natural aging. When that happens, one or more of the pelvic organs (bladder, small bowel, rectum or uterus) bulge into the vagina. Nearly half of all women will experience pelvic prolapse at some point during their lifetime.
Not all prolapse is the same.
There are five types of pelvic organ prolapse—
cystocele, enterocele, rectocele, uterine, and vaginal vault. Each form of prolapse presents its own challenges.
Cystocele prolapse: Supportive tissue between the bladder and vaginal wall weakens and stretches—allowing the bladder to bulge into the vagina.
Enterocele prolapse: Muscles and tissues that hold the small bowel in place weaken and the small bowel bulges down into the vagina.
Rectocele prolapse: The wall of fibrous tissue that separates a woman’s rectum from her vagina weakens and allows the rectum to bulge into the vagina.
Uterine prolapse: Ligaments and other connective tissue supporting the uterus weaken—allowing the uterus to slide down into the vagina. The vagina may be pulled down and even turn inside out.
Vaginal vault prolapse: Pelvic and vaginal tissues and muscles weaken until the upper portion of the vagina sags and loses its normal shape. It drops down into the vaginal canal or outside the vagina. This type of prolapse may happen on its own or along with a cystocele, rectocele or enterocele prolapse. It happens most frequently in women who have had a hysterectomy.
You don’t have to live with prolapse.
With physicians certified in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, Urology Partners offers the latest vaginal, robotic and non-invasive treatment options. Our pelvic organ prolapse specialists help women get back to doing all the things they love without discomfort, worry or embarrassment.
Pessary Devices
This non-invasive approach uses a soft rubbery silicone form known as a pessary. Inserted into the vagina, the pessary gently pushes the prolapsed organ back to its correct position to keep it from bulging into the vagina. Pessaries come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and work for most types of prolapse. Each is custom fit to the woman’s unique anatomy. Pessaries are a good treatment option for older women who are no longer sexually active and women who don’t wish to undergo surgery.
Most women find wearing a pessary very comfortable. Some patients simply wear it during the day, remove it at night to wash it, and then put it back in the next morning. Other women may wear their pessary for up to 10 weeks before they temporarily remove it for washing. Women who want or need help inserting and removing their pessary for washing, can visit the UP office for assistance every 10 weeks or so.
Vaginal Prolapse Repair
This non-invasive approach uses a soft rubbery silicone form known as a pessary. Inserted into the vagina, the pessary gently pushes the prolapsed organ back to its correct position to keep it from bulging into the vagina. Pessaries come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and work for most types of prolapse. Each is custom fit to the woman’s unique anatomy. Pessaries are a good treatment option for older women who are no longer sexually active and women who don’t wish to undergo surgery.
eks or so.