Cervix floor disorders including cervix organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and fecal incontinence are common and affect nearly 25% of women in the Cervical organ prolapse can happen to both men and women in the United States, but it is more common in females. Particularly in women who have given birth to multiple children, the physical strains and stresses of pregnancy and childbirth can weaken or harm the cervix floor’s muscles and tissues.
The causes, signs, and available treatments for cervix prolapse will then be more thoroughly discussed. It is first necessary to comprehend the cervix floor’s fundamental anatomy.
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What is Cervix Prolapse?
When the cervix floor muscles and ligaments sag, loosen up, and can no longer adequately support the uterus, cervix prolapse happens. The uterus slides into or out of the vagina as a result. Any woman, regardless of age, can develop cervix prolapse. However, postmenopausal women who have delivered their babies vaginally at least once are frequently affected.
Treatment is typically not needed for mild cervix prolapse. However, you might benefit from treatment if your cervix prolapse is making your life uncomfortable or a disruption.
Stages of cervix prolapse:
Cervix prolapse is often categorized in stages, from 0 to 4:
- Stage 0: The organs of the cervix are securely supported; there is no prolapse.
- Stage 1: The cervix organ (ex:, cervix) has begun to drop into the vagina.
- Stage 2: The cervix organ has positioned itself just inside the vaginal opening.
- Stage 3: The cervix organ has started to protrude past the vaginal opening.
- Stage 4: The entire organ is external to the vagina. It is a condition known as procidentia and is brought on by a loss of strength in all cervix floor supporting muscles.
Your doctor will conduct a cervix exam and obtain a medical history to determine whether you have a cervix prolapse. A computed tomography (CT) scan, which uses x-rays to create detailed images of your cervix organs, an intravenous pyelogram, which uses x-rays to display the location, size, and shape of your cervix organs, an ultrasound to rule out other conditions, and other tests may also be prescribed by your doctor.
Causes and Symptoms of Cervix Prolapse
Causes of Cervix Prolapse
The following conditions can cause cervix prolapse:
- Pregnancy, childbirth, and complicated (or normal) vaginal delivery
- Loss of tissue and tone, and/or loss of natural estrogen after menopause
- Chronic cough (e.g., from asthma or bronchitis), which leads to increased abdominal pressure
- Being overweight or obese creates additional strain on the cervix muscles
- Major surgery in the cervix area can weaken tissues in the pelvis
- Smoking, can damage tissues and lead to chronic cough
- Excess/improper weight lifting, which creates intra-abdominal pressure
Symptoms of Cervix Prolapse
There might be no symptoms from a minor cervix prolapse. In fact, prolapse is frequently found during a routine cervix exam by a woman’s doctor. If you do have symptoms, they may include:
- A feeling of fullness, pressure, or bulging in your pelvis (many women describe this as a feeling of sitting on a small ball)
- Feeling that something is falling out of your vagina
- Difficulty with urination or defecation
- Chronic constipation
- Low back pain
- Painful sexual intercourse and/or bleeding with intercourse
- Discomfort while walking
Cervix prolapse symptoms frequently get worse when standing, jumping, or lifting large objects.
How to Avoid Cervix Prolapse After Birth?
The course of treatment will depend on how fragile the structures that support your cervix have become.
At-home Restoration
Kegel exercises can help your cervix muscles become stronger. To perform these, contract the muscles in your cervix as though you were trying to stop the flow of urine. This exercise supports and strengthens the cervix diaphragm. Ask your doctor to give you instructions on how to isolate and work the muscles properly.
Surgical Treatment
The cervix prolapse can be repaired or removed during surgery, depending on your age and whether you want to get pregnant. A hysterectomy can be used to remove your uterus when necessary and in serious cases. The surgeon can also treat rectum, urethra, bladder, and vaginal wall sagging during the procedure. A small incision in the abdomen or vagina and the use of specialized instruments are all options for performing the surgery. Open abdominal surgery and vaginal surgery are also options.
Medications Remedy
The strength and vitality of the tissues in the vagina are restored with the assistance of estrogen (a hormone) cream, suppository ovules, or rings. However, certain postmenopausal women are the only ones who can use estrogen.
Other Treatments
If surgery is not an option for you or you are not a good candidate, you might choose to support the falling uterus by wearing a pessary in your vaginal canal. You may use this on a temporary or ongoing basis. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes and must be customized for you. A pessary might not be effective if you have a severe prolapse. Additionally, pessaries may cause an unpleasant discharge by irritating the vagina.
There is a procedure known as colpocleisis that you can choose from if you are not a good candidate for a hysterectomy or a pessary and won’t engage in sexual activity again. The walls of the vagina are sewn shut during this procedure.
Other Useful Tips to Treat Cervix Prolapse
Kegel Exercises
One of the most crucial ways to develop your cervix floor muscles is by doing this. Here’s how to do Kegels:
- Find the right muscles: Squeeze your anal muscles while stopping the urine midstream to locate your cervix muscles. You have chosen the appropriate muscles if you can complete this successfully.
- Get in position. Kegel exercises can be performed while standing, sitting, or lying down. Most women find it most comfortable to lie down.
- Focus. Instead of flexing your abdominal, thigh, or buttock muscles, squeeze only the pelvic floor muscles. Breathe normally and avoid holding your breath.
- Repeat. Three times per day, aim for 10 repetitions. At a first thing in the morning, during lunch or a break at work, and at night while you’re lying in bed, try performing some Kegels.
Consider using a Kegel exerciser device, which can be inserted vaginally and has biofeedback sensors that assist you in identifying and contracting the proper muscles, if you have trouble recognizing your cervix prolapse.
Get Constipation under Control
Your pelvic floor muscles can become damaged if you strain frequently or even just for a short period of time. By eating a diet high in fiber and using a mild vegetable laxative or an enema when necessary, you can keep constipation at bay. Talk to your doctor about other options if you’ve done everything but nothing has helped with your chronic constipation.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise is so essential for overall health that, generally speaking, you should not avoid it. While it’s important to avoid exercises that put undue strain on your pelvic floor, such as vigorous core exercises, strength training with heavy weights, and (for some women), running, in general, you should not avoid exercise. Your risk of developing prolapse or urinary incontinence can be decreased by having good muscle tone and core strength. Discuss the safest exercises for your pelvic floor with your doctor.
Final Thoughts
Cervical prolapse in its most severe forms can be fatal to women. Cervix prolapse can cause a variety of uncomfortable or painful symptoms, including feelings of embarrassment, and can make sexual activity difficult or impossible. If you have had one or more vaginal deliveries and experience any cervix prolapse symptoms, such as a bulging pelvis, uncomfortable sex, or trouble urinating, make an appointment with your gynecologist right away.
FAQs
How Common is Prolapse After Birth?
According to one study, around 35% of women who have recently given birth suffer from symptoms of cervix prolapse. There are still additional factors, such as genetics, obesity, and health issues. While prolapse is more common in postpartum women than in non-postpartum women, prolapse is not a given.
Does Lying Down Help Prolapse?
When an individual with uterine prolapse lies down, the uterus shifts to a relatively higher position, so in the morning after a night of sleeping, the uterine prolapse will be less severe.
