Treatments for Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) can be treated with a variety of methods, including nonsurgical and surgical procedures, depending on the severity of the prolapse and the associated symptoms.

Nonsurgical treatment options

Behavioral/Muscle Therapy: If symptoms are mild, therapy often starts with Kegel exercises to help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
Pessary: This device can be inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic area and help relieve mild symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse, including incontinence. Your doctor may recommend using vaginal estrogen along with the pessary. In some instances, a pessary may make urinary incontinence worse; if this happens, see your doctor to discuss other treatment options.
Biofeedback: In this method, the patient exercises the pelvic floor muscles while connected to an electrical sensing device. The device provides “feedback” to help you learn how to better control these muscles.

Over time, biofeedback can help you use your pelvic muscles to decrease sudden urges to urinate and lessen certain types of pelvic pain.

Surgical Options

For women whose symptoms don't respond to nonsurgical methods, your doctor may recommend pelvic reconstructive surgery. Your doctor may choose to perform one of several types of procedures. It is important for you to be familiar with each type of repair and to understand your choices.

Graft Augmented Repair: During this procedure, the surgeon repositions the prolapsed organs and secures them to surrounding tissues and ligaments using a soft mesh or biologic tissue graft. This surgery may be performed in one of three ways:

Through small incisions in the vagina. Click here to learn more about this procedure.
Through an incision below the bikini line
Through several small incisions in the abdomen together with a small camera called a laparoscope (pronounced lap'-a-rō-skōp) inserted through the belly button. This type of surgery is called laparoscopy (pronounced lap-a-rah'- skōp-pee).

Native Tissue Repair: This procedure, also referred to as Posterior and Anterior Colporrhaphy (pronounced kol-por'e-fee) is performed through incisions in the vagina. It involves folding and then suturing, or stitching, the back (posterior) or front (anterior) wall of the vagina to support prolapsed organs.
Hysterectomy: A hysterectomy may be done in combination with other pelvic floor repair procedures, depending on the type of pelvic organ prolapse. Click here to explore your hysterectomy options to learn about less invasive treatments that offer shorter recovery times.

All surgeries present risks. For more information about treatment options, please consult your doctor.

Stop Coping. Start Living.™

If you’ve been told that pelvic organ prolapse is an inevitable part of getting older, you should know that you don’t have to cope with
it – treatment may help. Click here to find a doctor familiar with GYNECARE^® products to discuss treatment options that may be right for you.

Next: Assess Your Symptoms

Pelvic Organ Prolapse