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Conditions

Vaginal Prolapse

Vaginal prolapse

A vaginal prolapse is when the walls of the vagina become weak and collapse inwards. This can be an extremely distressing disorder, which affects up to 30% of women who have had children, as well as those who are overweight or have a chronic cough. Many women with this condition are often unaware that they have it. However, depending on the severity of the case and whether a woman wants to have children in the future, there are many ways to treat a vaginal prolapse. Women can also take preventative measures against suffering from this disorder, such as eating a high fibre diet, maintaining a healthy weight and performing regular pelvic floor exercises. However if you have any concerns, then you shouldn’t be afraid to visit your GP for a check-up.

Comments and Questions

The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

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I've just seen something hang down in my vagina obviously a prolapse,I'm so so scared after reading stories online and can't stop crying as I have a horrendous hospital phobia,can someone please tell me what's evolved with having this diagnosed.thank you so much





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Hi there, I am 24 years old and had my son when I was 17. my son was 2 months early and only weighed 4 pound 7, so I would never of thought that could of done any real damage to my vaginal area. Although recently my partner made a comment when we were talking about sex that I am still rather (exscuse the description) that I am still rather tight in that area? Since having my son, I've always had a problem with having a weak bladder, which sometimes can become rather embarrassing, I seem to go to the toliet a lot more than anyone else, drinking caffeine and alchol sometimes even just squash I think makes this worse, but everyone who knows me, knows that I'm terrible when it comes to needing to go to the toliet. When popping over to see friends and having a cup of tea or coffee with them, I can guarantee that i'll have to go at least three times within and hour or two. But going back to what my partner said, with this in mind I did have a check to see if i could tell any difference and I must admit when placing my fingers there, it seemed to feel like I could push the walls up quite far and when letting go they would move straight back again, I have also noticed this when using tampons, I'll push them up and it will come striaght back down again, not so that they come out, but will kind of slide back down and I'll need to push them back up a few times before they stay there. I'm not sure if this is normal, or if there could be a problem? Thanks





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Oh boy, I pray this is not what's happening to me. I don't feel heaviness, instead its more an irritation. Also ever so slight pelvic "twinges". I feel the irritation even when I do kegels and I'm gettingworried. I'm 30 and have no loss yet. I'm overweight, so that doesn't help. O started working out about 3 weeks ago, which is when I first noticed it. I lifted about 50 to 60 pounds. Hope that wasn't too much. I hBe no medical coverage right now, or else I'd be running there. I have no desire to see my insides on the outside. I also have been soaking in Epsom salt, no pain using the bathroom, or difficulty. I don't know of its irritation or something more. Doing kegels while sitting, and then feeling the feeling scared me. Idk. I'm going to stop soaking I'm Epsom salt and see if anything changes, hopefully by then I'll have medical coverage again.





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Hi I'm 30 I av 3 beautiful children and Woz recent married.i ad my Kids by c section which caused me 2 av a lot of scar tissue.iv ad 2 laparoscopys 2 take it all away but since the 1st 1 they did dec last yr I woz unable 2go the toilet 4 a number 2!I woz in so much pain my parents paid 4 me 2 go private and iv recently been diognosed with a rectercele(prolapsed bowl)and also an enterocele(vaginal hernia)I'm in constant pain all the time iv befn in bed the last 3wks as its befn that bad.my consultant doesn't want 2 operate as I'm only young and I wanted another baby because it cud damage my uterus.but I don't know the risks of becoming pregnant while having what I av!iv befn told I will defo need the op in the long run as its the only way of gettin me sorted.iv also been told cuz of the scar tissue will keep growin bk il av 2 av another laparoscopy next yr,il need them every 2 yrs!il also eventually av 2 av a Hysterectomy so there basically making me wait 4 my ops whether I wanted more kids or not which I can only av another 1 anyway wit avian 3 sections bcuz I'm do young.i feel do depressed most of the time Iv been on the sick 3 wks now I'm due go bk in Monday but dreading it cuz I know I'm not up 2 it but it's just determination that's making me go!sex is painful,so is housework,walkin standing,most things.sorry 2 go on so long I'm just really fed up feel so useless mist of the time xx





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Hi, im 27, gave birth to my son 27wks ago, after failed ventouse ended up a forcepts delivery. Did kegal excersises since delivery+had no improvement 'down there' so saw my gp a cpl of weeks ago, he referred me to a more experianced gp who I saw today, both agreed I have wat they call mild prolapse. But cause im young they wont refer me to a gynocologist yet. Only if it gets worse or I have any other issues. The 2nd gp I saw today is pretty sure the muscle damage was cause by my sons delivery, being cut+my son being pulled about to get him out etc. All I have been advised is to keep up with the kegal excersizes, that have done nothing in 6mths so far+if no change in another 6mths ive got to see my gp again+ask for a referal. Im so down, frustrated, all sorts. Why becase im younger should I have to wait to be referred. Im very self consious of 'down there' all the time, I cant sit for long periods, im fidgety, its putting me off being intimate with my husband etc etc. Just wondered if any younger people have also ecperianced this wait+see approach. Or if they were referred directly etc. Any advice on what I can do to move things forward? Should I push for a referal now? the gp I saw today, said any futher babies will make everything worse, if I had surgery before more babies id prob end up having c-section delivery. Its like their waiting for things to get worse either on its own or me having another baby rather then acting now just cause im younger. ive left it 6mths, now ive got to go another 6mths, yet everything ive read says do leave it a year if u have concerns, go c yur gp etc etc. When u do u get fobbed off!





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hi there im 26 and after the birth of my third child all vaginal del.8lb 12oz.i noticed something wasnt right after asking midwife to have a look was told i had a prolapse.refered then to a womens health physio to do pelvic floor exercise.was told to give it a year to see if things would improve without surgery.this really upset me as was told to do litally nothing not possible with 3 kids.after seeing gp at 6 wk check and a lot of tears to gp was referred to a gyno was then diagnosed with 2nd degree cystocelle 3rd degree rectocele and cervical decent so quite alot.he agreed that i could have surgery as was affecting my life.5 months after my son i had a anterior wall repair,didnt get the same surgeon i was originally ment to have so she failed to correct rectcele.after 6 weeks recovery went bk to gp for referal to gyno again as rectocele was stil a problem had second surgery to correct rectocele along with vaginal tightening.had surgeon was originally ment to have.its been 16months now since i had my son and its took a long time to get to this point.but well worth it,to any one whose unhappy with the prolapse that they have. surgery 4 me was the best thing i did if simplier methods dont help.keep on for a referal and explain how you feel the right gp will refer you.for me waiting and doing kegals wasnt a option i felt it was ruining my life as normal day to day activities was a stuggle.im done having children but if i did have another a c section would be needed as another vaginal delivery would more then likely affect the surgery.the other thing i didnt mention was my cervical prolapse corrcted itself by the time i had my second surgery as after having my first surgery i was told i would need a hysterectomy but after a second appt with gyno he agreed to put bk without hysterectomy as i was too young and he wasnt happy doing this.however after second surgery it was discoverd cervical decent was no longer present.and i believe kegals helped with this.find out exactly what type of prolapse you have as can be quite confusing and def if your not happy press on for a referal.its now been 6 wks since 2nd surgery and i feel good getting esyier each day.have a good chat with your gyno and decide whats best for you.good luck.

I have had a prolapse about 3 year ago went in to hospital for a op do not enjoy sex can you get another prolapse as i feel as i have one





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Hi, I've just had pelvic floor surgery as my bladder was invading into my vagina. The surgery seemed to go well and apart from feeling a bit sore, I still feel swollen inside. The surgery was done 5 days ago. Can anyone tell me if this is normal? It still feels like my bladder is invading into the vaginal wall but when I've looked 'down below' there is no sign of the tell-tale bulge I've had for so long so clearly, the repair looks like it's been done correctly but I'm no doctory. Can anyone help me with this please? Thank you





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Hello everyone, I'm 28 years old and have had three vaginal deliveries, my youngest child is two. About two wks ago, I got an extremely bad cold which made me have a lot of heavy coughing.. now there is something protruding from my vagina! It's about th size of an egg.. Before this, my sex life was amazing and I had no genital problems, now sex is painful, I cannot get wet and my husband goes unsatisfied as well... I also have incontinence when I cough and my vicks aches as well as lower back pain.. These symptoms seem to point to a vaginal prolapse but without insurance I have no doctor :( Any advice??





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hi im 23 HAD MY 1ST AND ONLY CHILD AT THE AGEE OF 18 EVER SINCE THEN I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY MY SEX LIFE I CANT FEEL ANYTHING AT ALL IHV NO SENSATION. IT WORRIES MEAS MY BOYFREIND WELL YH LETS SAY HESNOT EXACTLY SMALL HES FAR FROM IT YET STILL I STRUGGLE TO ENJOY SEX WEVE TRIED EVERYTHING NOW I JUST DONT WANT TO BOTHER ITS REALLY KNOCKED MY CONFIDENCE AS IM STILL YOUNG. I WENT TO SEE MY DOCTOR ONCE THEY SAID I WAS FINE IM FAR FROM FINE... I HAD SCANS WHICH SHOWN I ALSO HAVE TILTED WOMB BUT THERENOT SO WORRIED ABOUT THAT I NEED HELP





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THIS IS FOR JOE ! SORRY TO HEAR UR SO DOWN ABOUT IT FOLK DONT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND IT DOES AFFECT U BADLY I HAVE A BLADDER PROLAPSE AND WENT TO MY GP SHE GAVE ME ESTROGEN PESSARIES TWICW WEEKLY AND I ALSO BOUGHT A KEGAL PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISER THE ELECTRONIC ONES AND I MUST ADMIT BEEN DOING IT EACH NIGHT FOR 2 WEEKS AND IT SEEMS TO BE HELPING I GOT THE TONE AND TIGHT ONE FROM A WEBSITE ! I DEF DONT FEEL AS AWARE OF THE HEAVINESS I FELT IM SURE IT DOESENT CURE IT BUT IT MAY STOP IT GETTING WORSE AND DELAY SURGERY I THINK ALOT OF WOMEN LIVE WITH IT BUT IT MUST DEPEND HOW MUCH IT BOTHERS U AND IF ITS UNCOMFORTABLE ! I DINT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PELVIC FLOOR BEFORE THIS IM ALSO 52 AND BEEN HEALTHY ALL MY LIFE SO ITS MASSIVE TO ME ! IM A BIT SCARED OF SEX AT THE MO BUT THINK HE UNDERSTANDS BUT IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON UR LIFE !!





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