1. What is pelvic organ prolapse?
Normally, connective tissue forms a strong “envelope” around the vaginal wall like a ligament, holding the vagina and uterus in the pelvis. When the pelvic floor muscles weaken and the connective tissue loosens, the pelvic organs and their adjacent vaginal walls protrude into or out of the vagina, resulting in subsequent symptoms.
2. What are the symptoms?
Loss of bladder control; difficulty in urination; frequent urination; bloating; feeling of heaviness, distension, fullness and pain in the bladder or vagina, or a feeling of falling; excessive vaginal discharge; discomfort or lack of sensation during intercourse.
3. How common is pelvic organ prolapse?
It is a very common condition, especially among older women. half of women over the age of 50 experience varying degrees of pelvic organ prolapse, and by the age of 80, more than 10% of women will have undergone prolapse repair surgery.
4. Are there different types of pelvic organ prolapse?
Prolapse occurs when the organ drops from its normal position and protrudes from time to time. There are several different types, including: bladder prolapse, rectal prolapse and uterine prolapse, and usually women will have more than one type of prolapse in combination.
5.How to treat pelvic organ prolapse?
Not all women with pelvic organ prolapse have symptoms that require treatment. If the patient’s symptoms are affecting her quality of life, surgery is the exact treatment. For those patients who wish to postpone surgery or who have only mild symptoms may benefit from the following options.
① Pelvic floor electrical stimulation feedback therapy
It is a method of treatment by means of a pelvic floor electrical stimulation feedback therapy device. It is beneficial for women diagnosed with mild pelvic organ prolapse who have not recently developed any significant symptoms.
②Uterine support
A device that is placed in the vagina to help support the pelvic area and can relieve mild symptoms of prolapse. Women who choose this treatment can make the best of it by learning how to remove, clean and reinsert the uterine support.
6. What is pelvic reconstructive surgery?
Pelvic reconstruction surgery is a transvaginal or abdominal procedure to reposition and secure the prolapsed organ to the surrounding tissues and ligaments, sometimes requiring special synthetic materials for reinforcement.
7.What is GYNECARE PROLIFT?
The innovative surgical procedure using GYNECARE PROLIFT uses a specially designed supportive soft mesh band placed in the pelvic cavity to repair the pelvic support. The placement of the GYNECARE PROLIFT mesh belt is designed to be performed through a very small transvaginal incision technique.
8. What is the difference between GYNECARE PROLIFT and other surgical options?
GYNECARE PROLIFT takes less than 1/2 the time of traditional surgery, with less pain and a better recovery; it preserves the normal vaginal anatomy, thus restoring normal sexual function; and if there are no problems with the uterus itself, a hysterectomy is usually not necessary with this new surgical operation.