Pelvic organ prolapse (prolapse of the pelvic floor, including the vagina, uterus, and small bowels) affects nearly 34 women worldwide. Symptoms include:
- Protruding vagina
- Vaginal bulges or lumps
- Pulling or stretching sensation in the groin
- Difficulty with bowel movements
- Urinary and fecal incontinence
- Delayed or slow urine stream
Prolapse occurs when your muscles and ligaments are damaged or weakened. There are several causes of prolapse. Some include:
- Childbirth
- Hysterectomy
- Age
- Genetics
- Obesity
- Ethnicity
Cystocele Image
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Rectocele Image
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Bladder Prolapse
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Enterocele
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Uterine Prolapse
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Vaginal Vault Prolapse
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Depending on the severity of your prolapse, you may be a candidate for nonsurgical options, including:
- Exercise
- Estrogen replacement therapy
- Vaginal pessary
In some instances, surgery is the best option.
Elevate is a minimally invasive method of treating pelvic organ prolapse. It uses a soft, synthetic mesh or biomaterial that is placed at the site of prolapse (i.e., vaginal vault, uterus, rectocele, cystocele, enterocele) to restore normal anatomy. This procedure is done in the hospital and most patients go home the following day.
- Minimizes tissue trauma and pain
- Restores normal anatomy
- Offers a faster recovery than open abdominal procedures