Vaginal Displacement and Other Types of Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Displacement of the uterus is usually congenital in nature however sometimes the backward displacement results from childbearing or scar tissue that happens when women have endometriosis. Positional displacement usually does not cause any noticeable signs however it can be the underlying cause for discomfort during intercourse or during menstrual periods. In some rare cases infertility can be caused by retrodisplacement of the uterus.
Women who have a malpositioned uterus seem to have more back pain associated with the menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia. If the displacement of the uterus causes severe pain or infertility problems the displacement can be surgically corrected. Abdominal surgery is performed to essentially relocate the uterus and suture it into a more natural position, however this type surgery can be complicated by age or other medical conditions which may make it too risky. In this case sometimes a pessary is inserted which repositions the uterus and the women is instructed to do knee to chest positioning several times a day.
If a pessary is used to correct the prolapse of the uterus a nurse will educate the women on how to remove, clean and reinsert the pessary. A pessary is a firm doughnut shaped ring device that is inserted into the upper vagina to reposition the uterus. Kegel exercises are also recommended for stress incontinence problems caused by the uterus and bladder pushing against each other.
The term prolapse indicates a structural protrusion. In a woman many conditions can arise that involve the vaginal area including:
Cystocele which is the bulging of the bladder into the vagina.
Rectocele which is the herniation of the rectum into the vagina
Enterocele which is a protrusion of the intestinal wall into the vagina
Uterovaginal prolapse which is the downward displacement of the cervix anywhere from lower into the vagina than normal to all the way out of the vagina.
A pelvic organ prolapse is usually congenital however the acquired weakness in the muscles that support the pelvic structures can develop over time. Common causes of this weakness include postpartum tears, stretching during long pregnancies and childbirth, tumorous masses and obesity. As the pelvic floor relaxes over time the structures shift downward. This condition in many older women is referred to as uterus or bladder has dropped, however this displacement is sometimes very disturbing and leads to women having to alter their lives due to incontinence or problems with bowel elimination. Many women with uterovaginal prolapse are more susceptible to cervical cancer. Pelvic organ prolapse can be disruptive for women who have to stand a long time or walk a lot, as well as causing difficulty when lifting.
Sometimes diagnosis of displacement of the bladder, uterus or other pelvic region organs can be found during pelvic examinations.
In some cases because of uterus prolapse a vaginal hysterectomy may be necessary. I must admit I am now up in age and have had my bladder drop as well as my uterus and this interferes with my daily life considering I have what I consider to be a weak bladder and coughing or sneezing can cause me to secrete urine. This is very disturbing to me and I try to void every two hours to make sure that I never have a full bladder. I know that I would be a good candidate for surgery however I work all the time and feel embarrassed that I have let this condition get go for so long. Nurses such as myself are the worlds worst when it comes to covering up medical conditions especially those that are embarrassing to discuss.
References for this article include:
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001508.htm
www.epigee.org/health/pelvic_prolapse.html
www.bladderdisorders.info/articles/bladder-disorders/bladder-prolapse.php
Published by Kimberly Cummings
I've been a nurse for over 28 years and have worked in almost every department. I'm a non-fiction writer and I have worked in business for well over 15 years, along with having been in the military. My most... View profile
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