Prolapse Surgery
Prolapse surgery is an operation to correct vaginal prolapse (pelvic organ prolapse) – a condition where your bladder, bowel or uterus descends and protrudes into the vagina. Treatment is only necessary if your prolapse is causing bothersome symptoms, though. And often, pelvic floor exercises or a pessary are all that you need.
Occasionally, for a more severe prolapse or a prolapse that hasn’t responded to physiotherapy, surgery is required. There are different types of prolapse surgery, but all aim to fix the prolapse. Surgery provides support for the vaginal walls or uterus while also preventing it from happening again. Sometimes, prolapse surgery involves a hysterectomy or removal of the uterus. At other times, it involves a vaginal repair with stitches to reinforce the connective tissues in your pelvis.
If you’ve made the decision to have prolapse surgery, you might be feeling optimistic but perhaps also a little nervous. You might not know what to expect in the recovery phase. Or maybe you’re wondering when you can return to the gym. This is why preparing for and recovering from vaginal prolapse surgery with expert support is so much easier than going it alone.
We’re here to help you.
At Pelvic Health Matters, along with your medical team, we’re here to give you much-needed peace of mind. We can give you expert advice about bladder, bowel and sexual function, pelvic floor muscles, lifting and general exercise. And, we can help you prepare for and recover quickly from prolapse surgery so you can return to your normal activities. By having the care and support you need, you’ll find life will be that much easier.
Preparing for and recovering from prolapse surgery with expert support is so much easier than going it alone. And you’ll be happy to know, our postgraduate-qualified pelvic health physiotherapists are here to help.
Common reasons for prolapse surgery
Reasons for needing prolapse surgery might include:
- A vaginal bulge or lump
- A feeling of vaginal heaviness or dragging
- Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowel
- Problems with sexual intercourse
- Being unable to stand or walk for long periods
- A need to modify your lifestyle and exercise choices significantly
Mostly, these symptoms improve with physiotherapy, but if they don’t, you may need surgery.
Types of prolapse surgery
Hysterectomy
The uterus, and sometimes the cervix, is surgically removed.
Colporrhaphy
Stitches are placed to strengthen the vaginal wall. This procedure is used to treat prolapse of the front and back walls of the vagina.
Sacrocolpopexy
This surgery provides support to the uterus. The vagina is lifted back into place by attaching it to the tailbone.
Our Proven Pathway for Supporting Prolapse Surgery
Discover what matters
You’re assessed as a whole person
We start by taking the time to learn all about you as a whole person, not just a patient. So, your postgraduate qualified pelvic health physiotherapist will gather the following information:
- QUESTIONNAIRE: You’ll complete a pelvic health questionnaire online before your first visit. This helps us understand about your history, current health concerns and what matters to you.
- 1-on-1 CONSULTATION: Here, we’ll take the time to learn about you and your need for prolapse surgery. We believe a holistic approach enables us to understand how your specific physical, emotional and lifestyle factors influence your pelvic health.
- THOROUGH ASSESSMENT: This includes an abdominal and pelvic floor examination, bladder diary, bowel diary and questionnaires to understand your thoughts, feelings and environment.
- CONNECTING THE DOTS: Now that we’ve discovered so much about you and your prolapse issues, we can explore how it all fits together. For example, we might look at how your weight training and care of your grandchildren needs to be modified during recovery. Or perhaps we’ll discuss how vital a strong pelvic floor is in supporting your surgical outcome (as well as preventing other problems).
- SET GOALS: We’ll help you set meaningful pelvic health goals such as:
- Know that I’m doing everything to get the best surgical outcome
- Recover quickly from my prolapse surgery
- Feel confident to return to the gym
- Return to babysitting my grandchildren
- Feel more relaxed and present without having constant vaginal heaviness
Restore what matters
You’ll have a personalised pelvic health plan.
Step 2 is where we get down to action. Together, we’ll choose the most optimal research-proven treatment options for your lifestyle. You’ll learn what to expect from surgery, any lifestyle modifications for the post-op period, and how to return to your regular activities.
Whether you’ve come to us before or after your prolapse surgery, we’ll design a personalised pelvic floor and abdominal muscle program to ensure these essential muscles are working optimally. You’ve probably already been doing some of this, so we’ll ensure your program is modified appropriately. Together, we’ll design a balanced and graduated return to your normal activities and the type of exercise you enjoy. We’ll also help address any bladder or bowel issues that may co-exist or arise after the surgery. And, if you’d like, we’ll help support you in your return to intimacy.
Plus, we’ll give you excellent resources and tools to help you progress. You’ll be armed with all the things!
ABOUT YOUR APPOINTMENTS: Together, we’ll work out how often we should see each other. We’ll agree on what works best for you, your commitments and your finances.
Enjoy what matters
You’ll be living your best life.
Step 3 is all about ensuring you achieve those meaningful goals you set at the beginning of our time together. Now that you’ve recovered from your surgery, you might find you can take on new possibilities that you may not even have considered, such as enjoying a long hike, volunteering at the local soup kitchen – or travelling overseas. You’ll be equipped with good bladder and bowel habits and have confidence in your body to take on whatever you choose – without always having to return for appointments.
Sometimes, though, life’s little surprises might mean you need to return for a reset. Perhaps a nasty virus will set you back, or your hormones might throw you out of kilter. Whatever the case, we’ll always be here to help you.
Read about Gwen 68 yrs, Barb 70 yrs
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Pelvic Health Matters
New name.
Same exceptional care.
Formerly known as Women’s & Men’s Health Physiotherapy, our new name reflects both what we believe in and what we do. We have an unwavering belief that pelvic health matters for everyone, at every stage of life.
Same phone number: 03 8823 8300
New email: physio@pelvichealth.com.au