The network of muscles, ligaments, and skin in and around a woman’s vagina acts as a complex support structure that holds pelvic organs, and tissues in place. This support network includes the skin and muscles of the vaginal walls (a network of tissues called the fascia). Various parts of this support system may eventually weaken or break, causing a common condition called vaginal prolapse.

This image shows what a normal female pelvis looks like .

This shows the bladder which has herniated, or “dropped” into the vagina.

This shows the uterus, which has dropped out of the opening to the vagina. If the uterus has been removed, the top of the vagina can also drop down. This would be called apical prolapse. ..

Types of Vaginal Prolapse

Rectocele (prolapse of the rectum): This type of vaginal prolapse involves a prolapse of the back wall of the vagina (rectovaginal fascia). When this wall weakens, the rectal wall pushes against the vaginal wall, creating a bulge. This bulge may become especially noticeable during bowel movements.

Cystocele (prolapse of the bladder, dropped bladder): This can occur when the front wall of the vagina (pubocervical fascia) prolapses. As a result, the bladder may prolapse into the vagina. When this condition occurs, the urethra usually prolapses as well. A urethral prolapse is also called a urethrocele. When both the bladder and urethra prolapse, this condition is known as a cystourethrocele. Urinary stress incontinence (urine leakage during coughing, sneezing, exercise, etc) is a common symptom of this condition.

Enterocele (herniated small bowel): The weakening of the upper vaginal supports can cause this type of vaginal prolapse. This condition primarily occurs following a hysterectomy. An enterocele results when the front and back walls of the vagina separate, allowing the intestines to push against the vaginal skin.

Prolapsed uterus (womb): This involves a weakening of a group of ligaments called the uterosacral ligaments at the top of the vagina. This causes the uterus to fall, which commonly causes both the front and back walls of the vagina to weaken as well. Stages of uterine prolapse are:

  1. First-degree prolapse: The uterus droops into the lower portion of the vagina.
  2. Second-degree prolapse: The uterus falls to the level of the vaginal opening.
  3. Third-degree prolapse: The cervix, which is located at the bottom of the uterus, sags to the vaginal opening and protrudes outside the body. This condition is also called procidentia, or complete prolapse.
  4. Fourth-degree prolapse: The entire uterus protrudes entirely outside the vagina. This condition is also called procidentia, or complete prolapse.

Vaginal vault prolapse: This type of prolapse may occur following a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus). Because the ligaments surrounding the uterus provides support for the top of the vagina, this condition is common after a hysterectomy. In vaginal vault prolapse, the top of the vagina gradually falls toward the vaginal opening. This may cause the walls of the vagina to weaken as well. Eventually, the top of the vagina may protrude out of the body through the vaginal opening, ultimately turning the vagina inside out. A vaginal vault prolapse is often accompanied by an enterocele.

A large percentage of women develop some form of vaginal prolapse during their lifetime, most commonly following menopause, childbirth, or a hysterectomy. Most women who develop this condition are older than 40 years of age. Many women who develop the symptoms of a vaginal prolapse do not seek medical help because of embarrassment or other reasons. Some women who develop a vaginal prolapse do not experience symptoms.

The network of muscles, ligaments, and skin in and around a woman's vagina acts as a complex support structure that holds pelvic organs, and tissues in place. This support network includes the skin and muscles of the vaginal walls (a network of tissues called the fascia). Various parts of this support system may eventually weaken or break, causing a common condition called vaginal prolapse. Vaginal prolapse is a condition in which structures such as the uterus, rectum, bladder, urethra, small bowel, or the vagina itself may begin to prolapse, or fall out of their normal positions. Without medical treatment or surgery, these structures may eventually prolapse farther and farther into the vagina or even through the vaginal opening if their supports weaken enough. The symptoms that result from vaginal prolapse commonly affect sexual function as well as bodily functions such as urination and defecation. Pelvic pressure and discomfort are also common symptoms.Accordion Sample Description
For some women, their prolapse gets worse over time. For others, their prolapse will stay the same with conservative treatment options. Prolapse generally does not improve without surgery.
Most likely. Prolapse, left untreated, almost always gets worse over time but this is usually a gradual change. “New” prolapse (noticed by a patient or doctor in the early postpartum period) will often get better within the first year after the delivery. This is one exception to the rule. Treatment of prolapse should be based on your symptoms. In rare cases, severe prolapse can cause urinary retention (inability to empty the bladder) that progresses to kidney damage or infection. When this occurs, prolapse treatment is considered mandatory. In most other cases, patients should be the ones to decide when to have their prolapse treated - based on the symptoms they are having.
Most likely. If you are going to have surgery to correct the prolapse, bladder testing (called urodynamics) usually is done first. That's because the prolapsed portion of your vagina may be pushing on your urethra and preventing urine leakage. If that is the case, having the prolapse corrected can give you a new problem - urinary incontinence. The best way to tell whether a continence procedure is needed at the time of prolapse surgery is to perform urodynamics while holding the prolapse up in its normal position.
No. Any or all of the operations for prolapse and incontinence can be performed with or without a hysterectomy . However, hysterectomy is often performed along with these operations for a variety of reasons. In some cases, removing the uterus first makes the rest of the surgery easier to perform. In other cases, there is another reason besides prolapse or incontinence (such as cancer or excessive bleeding) to remove the uterus. Whether or not to remove the uterus should be discussed between the patient and her surgeon, and the decision should be individualized from patient to patient. Recently, there has been renewed interest in the possibility of repairing the prolapse without taking the uterus out (uterine preservation). Reasons to consider uterine preservation include the following: Potentially decreasing the operative time and risk of surgery, because the hysterectomy part is not required. Reducing vaginal incisions, which might in turn reduce some kinds of complications like erosions, and leave more of the support structures intact. Individual patient preference. The desire to become pregnant. Most surgeons, however, discourage prolapse surgery until childbearing is complete.