Pelvic organ prolapse is when a pelvic organ droops due to weakening of pelvic floor muscles and tissues.
Dr Chua Hong Liang, Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Co-Director, Pelvic Floor Disorders Service (PFDS), Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group, shares more on managing pelvic organ prolapse.
Management and treatment of pelvic organ prolapse
Treatment will be based on which pelvic organs have prolapsed, how severe your symptoms are and whether other medical conditions are present.
If your symptoms are mild, changes to your lifestyle may be effective in slowing down the progression of prolapse. These lifestyle changes include the following:
A pelvic support device in the form of a pessary can be fitted to support the prolapsed organ. It is a removable device that is placed in your vagina and helps to hold the pelvic organ in place. Regular change of the pessary is needed to prevent infection. A pessary is suitable in a woman who has not completed her family, or is not fit for surgery.
You may want to consider surgery if:
Types of surgery for pelvic organ prolapse include:
Pelvic organ prolapse is common and often involves more than one organ. In mild prolapse, preventive measures are available to slow down its progression. Surgery may be indicated in symptomatic women when conservative management does not help.
About the Pelvic Floor Disorders Service (PFDS) at SGH
The SGH PFDS is a joint initiative by the Departments of Colorectal Surgery, Urology and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. It was established in 2008 to provide integrated and holistic care to patients with pelvic floor disorders.
Ref: R14
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