Women's Health
Discover how Main Line Health provides comprehensive and compassionate care for women in all stages of life.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
What is pelvic organ prolapse?
If you have pelvic organ prolapse, it may feel like the internal organs in your pelvis are literally going to fall out. Pelvic organ prolapse is usually the result of damage to the pelvic floor that happens during pregnancy and delivery, or is caused by heavy lifting or the effects of menopause.
Your pelvic floor is made up of muscles and tissue that hold the pelvic organs, including the uterus, bladder and bowel, in place. If your pelvic floor is injured or becomes weak over time, you may experience pelvic organ prolapse. Main Line Health offers treatment options to help correct pelvic organ prolapse and relieve your symptoms.
Symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse
The most common symptom is a feeling of heaviness or pulling in your pelvic region. It may become worse after a bowel movement, at the end of the day or when you've been very active or standing for a long time. Other symptoms may include:
- Aching in the vagina
- A bulge or feeling of something falling out of your vagina
- Anal leakage or trouble controlling gas
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Constipation
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Pain during urination
- Problems with urination such as leaking, frequent urges, difficulty starting or difficulty emptying your bladder
Diagnosis and testing for pelvic organ prolapse
If you have symptoms, your doctor will begin with a pelvic exam. You will also possibly have an ultrasound so your doctor can get a better view of your internal pelvic organs. Finally, diagnostic laparoscopy (a minimally invasive procedure where a thin tube with a camera is inserted through a small incision) may be used to view your internal pelvic organs.
Treatments
Your treatment plan will depend on your symptoms and the extent of pelvic organ prolapse. It may be possible to reduce your symptoms by using exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor, called Kegels. Lifestyle changes, such as staying at a healthy weight and avoiding lifting heavy objects, may also be part of your plan. Another non-surgical treatment option is physical therapy to help strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
If your pelvic organ prolapse is severe, you may need female pelvic reconstructive surgery to help relieve your symptoms. Main Line Health has urogynecology specialists with experience in female pelvic reconstructive surgery, including minimally invasive, laparoscopic surgery. During surgery, your pelvic organs will be returned to the correct location and your pelvic floor will be strengthened.
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
With three locations in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, we’re sure to offer pelvic floor rehabilitation near you. Our pelvic floor PTs treat pelvic floor conditions in men and women and we’re able to offer comprehensive treatments for these sometimes complex conditions.
Pelvic Floor Therapy
Pelvic floor rehabilitation can help women struggling with incontinence, vaginal pain and pelvic floor muscle tension.
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery can be used to treat a broad spectrum of gynecological disorders with advanced precision.
Gynecology
Whether you’re seeing us for common gynecological problems or seeking out advanced therapies and the very best surgical expertise, our physicians, board-certified are here for in gynecology, are here for you every stage of your life from adolescence through the childbearing years into menopause and beyond.
Maternity (Obstetrics)
The obstetrician team at Main Line Health is here to help you through your pregnancy journey with more than 90 OB/GYN specialists working at locations in the Philadelphia region.