Is Pelvic Floor Repair Major Surgery?

Is Pelvic Floor Repair Major Surgery?

Pelvic floor repair surgery is the most common surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic floor repair is a broad term used to classify a variety of simple, surgical procedures for repairing the pelvic floor. The three surgeries for pelvic floor prolapse include anterior repair, posterior repair, and a hysterectomy.

Although Restore Your Core does not provide any surgical treatment for pelvic floor issues, my hope is that this article may answer any questions you may have regarding pelvic floor repair and the various procedures and treatments involved in getting you back to a healthy, active lifestyle.

What are the Symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Prolapse can affect several abdominal organs. These organs are said to prolapse if they descend into or out of the vaginal canal or anus. The medical terminology for these occurrences include:

• Cystocele: prolapse of the bladder into the vagina, the most common condition
• Urethrocele: prolapse of the urethra (the tube that carries urine)
• Uterine prolapse
• Vaginal vault prolapse: prolapse of the vagina
• Enterocele: Small bowel prolapse
• Rectocele: Rectum prolapse

What Causes Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

There are many factors that are thought to cause a prolapse. In most cases, anything that may apply or put increased pressure in the abdomen can lead to a pelvic organ prolapse. Some of the common causes may include:

• Pregnancy, labor, and childbirth are the most common causes
• Obesity
• Connective tissue disorders
• Respiratory problems with a chronic, long-term cough
• Constipation
• Genetic factors 
• Pelvic organ cancers
• Surgical removal of the uterus (hysterectomy)

Diastasis recti (weakened core, connective tissues)

Symptoms

The symptoms of a prolapse somewhat depend on which organ has descended. If you are suffering from a bladder prolapse, urinary incontinence may occur. If it is a rectal prolapse, constipation, painful bowel movements, and painful sex often occur. Lower back pain, painful sex, and bowel obstruction or incontinence tend to accompany a small intestine prolapse as well. If you are suffering from a prolapse of the uterus, you may also suffer from uncomfortable intercourse, incontinence, and lower back pain.

In some cases, there may never be signs of a prolapse or the presence of any painful symptoms. However, in others some women report symptoms ranging from:

• Pressure or sense of fullness in the pelvic area
• Lower back pain
• Painful sex
• Sensation of something falling out of the vagina
• Urinary incontinence or frequent urination
• Constipation
• Spotting or bleeding from the vagina

In cases where there may be a severe prolapse, POP symptoms may worsen. One may notice:

• Bulging of the vaginal region
• Needing manual assistance during a bowel movement
• Difficulty urinating, spraying stream of urine
• The need to lift the bulging vagina in order to urinate
• Urinary leakage during intercourse
• Recurrent UTIs or kidney infections