What does a prolapse feel like inside?
If you're just here wondering what a prolapse feels like inside, because you're not quite sure if you have one, let's chat.
It happens more frequently than you'd think. Someone calls my clinic in a panic saying that they were feeling some pelvic discomfort, like "something wasn't quite sitting right" so they went to the bathroom and looked down there, only to see a bulge.
Then they went on Google and found terrifying pictures of extreme prolapse and are now worried that their only options are either surgery or to live the rest of their life with prolapse causing them mental and physical anguish.
If this story sounds all too familiar, then I want you to first take a deep breath.
And then hear this message: pelvic organ prolapse is not only very common, but it's very treatable with pelvic floor physical therapy!
While surgery may be warranted in some severe cases, more often than not patients are able to completely resolve their symptoms in my office!
In this blog, I'll review what a prolapse is, what it can feel like inside, and and where to get help if you are looking for treatment.
What is a prolapse?
A prolapse is simply when one of the organs that are situated within the pelvis (which would be the bladder, the uterus, and the rectum) begin to lower further down in the pelvis from where they naturally sit.
There are several types of prolapse, each affecting different pelvic organs and are named according to the organs affected.
The most common types include:
Cystocele, which occurs when the bladder bulges into the front wall of the vagina,
Rectocele, where the rectum protrudes into the back wall of the vagina,
And uterine prolapse, where the uterus descends into the vaginal canal.
Other variations include vaginal vault prolapse, which can happen after a hysterectomy, and enterocele, where the small intestine pushes into the upper part of the vagina.
Before we go any further, it's important to understand that having a prolapse does not mean it is a medical emergency, it does not mean that you need surgery, and it does not mean that you’ll need to live with prolapse symptoms for the rest of your life.
Symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (and what a prolapse feels like on the inside)
If you have a prolapse, you may experience the following symptoms:
Heaviness in the pelvic region or excessive pressure inside the pelvis
A feeling of pelvic pain while you're sitting or standing, especially after long periods
Difficulty with bowel movements
A "bulging" feeling, or feeling like something just isn't sitting right
Increased heaviness, pain, or a feeling that something is out-of-place while coughing or sneezing. Oftentimes with a chronic cough or bronchitis (or other long-term sickness), you'll feel like a flare-up is happening.
Increased symptoms with heavy lifting or a feeling like you're "bottoming out" while lifting.
Why does a prolapse occur?
A prolapse can occur for a variety of reasons, but typically it will come down to the inability of the connective tissues that support the organs inside the pelvic region to withstand different pressures being placed on it.
There is likely a weakness in one of the walls (the vaginal wall) depending on what type of prolapse you have.
But, if we work backward here... we know that if we can change the way we handle pressure via our core and pelvic floor muscles and the way we displace pressure inside the body, we know that we can decrease the risk for prolapse, improve prolapse symptoms, and even decrease the extensiveness of an existing prolapse. This also means we can decrease the risk of reoccurrence of prolapse.
How to know if you have a prolapse and what to do about it
It's understandable that you're worried about whether you have a prolapse and wondering what you can do about it if you do.
If you want the best and most specific information, plan, and treatment options, then I would recommend getting a full evaluation by a pelvic floor physical therapist (obviously!)
If you're located in the Durham, NC area, then I'd love to help you at my Durham pelvic PT office.
Even if you have a lot of the symptoms that I mentioned above, you could have a different type of pelvic floor dysfunction.
Depending on what your pelvic exam shows, your pelvic floor therapist (that’s me!) can determine a specific plan for you.
If you're someone who lifts, runs, or works out in any capacity, it's extremely important to have a personalized assessment so that you can get strategies that will work best for you as you work out.
If you're looking for a quick idea for relief from the pressure or heaviness in the pelvic area, a strategy a lot of my patients employ is lying on their back with a pillow underneath their bottom to prop themselves up (think hips higher than your shoulders).
This can decrease the pressure being placed on the pelvic organs and give you some relief, especially if you're feeling a flare up.
Where to get an assessment and treatment for pelvic prolapse
If you are local to the Durham, NC area, I can help you figure out if you have a prolapse and exactly what to do about it inside my pelvic health physical therapy clinic.
Feel free to get started today by booking a discovery call.
