A feeling of heaviness, pressure, or dragging in the pelvis can be unsettling, especially when you don’t know what is causing it. Some women describe feeling like something is “falling out,” noticing a bulge at the vaginal opening, or feeling more pressure after standing for a long time, exercising, lifting, or having a bowel movement.
One possible cause of these symptoms is pelvic organ prolapse.
Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when one or more of the pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus, or rectum, move downward and place pressure on the vaginal walls. This can happen when the muscles and connective tissues that help support the pelvic organs are no longer providing the same level of support.
Prolapse can occur after pregnancy and childbirth, but it is not limited to the postpartum period. Changes associated with menopause, aging, genetics, repeated increases in abdominal pressure, chronic constipation, and other factors can also contribute to pelvic organ prolapse.
The symptoms can vary quite a bit from one woman to another. Some women may notice a vaginal bulge or pressure, while others may mainly experience heaviness or a dragging sensation that becomes more noticeable later in the day or after physical activity. You may also notice changes in bladder or bowel function, difficulty completely emptying your bladder or bowels, or discomfort during certain activities.
And while noticing a bulge can understandably make you think, “Is something seriously wrong?” pelvic organ prolapse does not automatically mean that you need surgery.
Treatment depends on your symptoms, the degree of prolapse, your activity level, and what you want to be able to do. For some women, pelvic floor physical therapy can be an important part of treatment. Therapy may focus on pelvic floor muscle coordination and strength, breathing and pressure management, movement strategies, and ways to modify activities that aggravate symptoms.
How you lift and breathe can matter, too. This does not mean that you need to stop lifting or avoid exercise altogether. Instead, a pelvic floor physical therapist can help you understand how you are managing pressure during movement and find strategies that allow you to continue doing the activities that are important to you.
A pessary is another nonsurgical option that may be appropriate for some women. A pessary is a device placed inside the vagina to provide additional support for the pelvic organs. It can sometimes be used on its own or alongside pelvic floor physical therapy, depending on your individual needs.
The goal of treatment isn’t necessarily to make the prolapse disappear. It’s to help you manage your symptoms, improve support and function, and feel confident in your body and the activities you want to do.
If you are noticing pelvic pressure, heaviness, a bulge, or changes in your bladder or bowel function, you don’t have to simply live with it or assume surgery is your only option.
You don’t have to live with pressure. Get assessed.
Looking to optimize your well being with pelvic floor physical therapy? Reach out to us at Pelvic Health Center in Madison, NJ to set up an evaluation and treatment! Feel free to call us at 908-443-9880 or email us at [email protected]. We are in-network with several insurance plans and can help you confirm your benefits before your evaluation.