Uterine Prolapse - What Are The Symptoms?

If you have this feeling of something descending into the vagina or a dragging pain in the pelvis, you might be suffering from uterine prolapse. Read on to find what exactly is uterine prolapse and what are its symptoms.


 What does Uterine Prolapse mean?

Uterine Prolapse is the downward displacement of uterus; the cervix sometimes protruding from the vaginal orifice caused by weakening of pelvic musculature due to:

• Age, 
• Traumatic vaginal delivery, 
• Chronic straining in association with coughing or 
• Difficult bowel movements or 
• Pelvic tumors which push the uterus down.

Degrees of Uterine Prolapse

Depending on the level of descent of the cervix, uterine prolapse has been categorized as:

First Degree	Descent of cervix into the vagina
Second Degree	Descent of cervix up to the vaginal orifice
Third Degree	Descent of cervix outside the vaginal orifice ( Procidentia – All of the uterus outside the vaginal orifice)

Symptoms of Uterine Prolapse

Following symptoms are usually associated with prolapse of uterus-

#1. Feeling of something descending in the vagina or of something protruding either at the vulva or externally. Aggravated by-

• Straining.
• Heavy work.
• Moving about.

There is usually relief when lying down.

#2. Backache or dragging pain or bearing-down feeling in pelvis usually relieved by rest.

#3. Sense of weakness and of a lack of support around the perineum.

#4. Some degree of vaginal discharge may be present associated with vaginitis. Blood stained discharge may be due to ulcer formation (caused by friction)

#5. Micturition disturbances are common-

• Imperfect control of micturition and stress incontinence.

(Due to lack of support to sphincter mechanism of urethra)

• Urgency and frequency of micturition.

(Due to chronic cystitis or incomplete emptying of bladder)

• Difficulty in passing urine so that more the strenuous effort the less effective is the evacuation.

 (Due to cystocele i.e., prolapse of the anterior vaginal wall: when intra-abdominal pressure is raised during straining, urine is pushed down into the cystocele below the level of external opening of urethra.)

Patient has to press back the cystocele into the vagina with her fingers for evacuating the bladder.

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