Uterine Prolapse

UTERINE PROLAPSE
Dr Smita Shinde( PT, PhD Scholar)

CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• DEFINITION
• CAUSES
• TYPES OF PROLAPSE
• DEGREE OF PROLAPSE
• DIAGNOSIS AND INVESTIGATIONS
• SIGN AND SYMPTOMS
• MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
• It is one of the common clinical condition met in day to day
gynaecological practice
• It is most often seen in multiparous women
• It is a form of herniation
• Uterine prolapse can happen to women of any age, but it
affects post menopausal women who had one or more vaginal
deliveries.
• The incidence of prolapse is about one in 250 pregnancies.
CONTD……..
• Uterine prolapse occurs when pelvic floor muscles and
ligaments stretch and weaken, providing inadequate support for
the uterus. The uterus then slips down into or protrudes out of
the vagina.
• Weakening of the pelvic muscles that leads to uterine prolapse
can be caused by:
• Damage to supportive tissue during pregnancy and child birth
• Effects of gravity
• Loss of oestrogen
SUPPORT OF UTERUS
• Round ligament
• Broad ligaments
• Pubocervical
ligaments
• Pelvic Floor
muscles
• Utero sacral
ligaments
DEFINITION
• Uterine prolapse means the uterus

has descended from its normal
position in the pelvis farther down
into the vagina .
• Uterine prolapse is a form of
female genital prolapse. It is also
called pelvic organ prolapse or
prolapse of the uterus (womb)
CAUSES
• Birth injury: it is important cause, a perineal tear is less harmful
than the excessive stretching of the pelvic floor muscles and
ligaments that occur during child birth because over stretching
causes atonicity where as torn muscle could be stitched or
toned up.
• Peripheral nerve injury: such a pudendal nerve injury during
child DURING CHILD BIRTH Causes prolapse which is
reversible in 60% and it may be responsible for stress in
continence also.
Contd….
• Bear down : before full dilation of the cervix and when the
bladder is not empty. Heavy work just after delivery without any
rest or pelvic floor exercises
• Delivery of a big baby: also stretches the perineal muscles and
leads to patulous introitus and prolapse. Precipitate labour and
fundal pressure may be responsible for prolapse. Rapid
succession of pregnancies
• Loss of pelvic support which results in uterine prolapse
• Post partum cough
Other Causes
• Congenital weakness: congenital weakness of the uterus and vagina
is the most important causative factor of the utero-vaginal prolapse in
is nulliparous.
• Acquired defects: in multiparous women overstretching of the
ligaments
• Menopausal atrophy: after menopause due to withdrawal of
oestrogen there is atrophy of the genital tract and its supports. In
women due to atrophy of ligaments supports of the uterus and vagina
prolapse develop
Contd……
• Activating factors: the utero vaginal prolapse is aggravated by

Small fibroids or traction on the uterus.
Pelvic tumours
• Body type: some women have softer connective tissue than others
which means the ligaments that support your pelvic organs loosen
more easily, they are more prone to stretch during pregnancy and
child birth so there may be a higher risk for developing a prolapse.
• Obesity
TYPES OF PROLAPSE
• Uterovaginal prolapse:
It is prolapse of uterus , cervix and upper vagina
Commonest type
It is accompanied by Cystocele.
• Congenital prolapse:
No cystocele
Often seen in nulliparous, so called as nulliparous prolapse.
Cause-congenital weakness of supports of uterus
Prolapse of the anterior (front) vaginal wall
• Cystocele (bladder prolapse)-when the bladder
prolapses, it falls towards the vagina and creates a large
bulge in the front vaginal wall. It's common for both the
bladder and the urethra to prolapse together. This is called
a cystourethrocele.
• Urethrocele (prolapse of the urethra)-when the urethra
slips out of place, it also pushes against the front of the
vaginal wall, but lower down, near the opening of the vagina
Prolapse of the posterior vaginal wall
• Enterocele (prolapse of the small bowel)-part of the
small intestine that lies just behind the uterus (in a space
called the pouch of douglas) may slip down between the
rectum and the back wall of the vagina.
• Rectocele (prolapse of the rectum or large bowel)-this
occurs when the end of the large bowel (rectum) loses
support and bulges into the back wall of the vagina. It is
different from a rectal prolapse (when the rectum falls out
of the anus).
Uterine and vaginal vault prolapse
• Grade 1: the uterus has dropped slightly. At this stage many
women may not be aware they have a prolapse. It may not cause
any symptoms and is usually diagnosed as a result of an
examination for a separate health issue.
• Grade 2: the uterus has dropped further into the vagina and the
cervix (neck or tip of the womb) can be seen outside the vaginal
opening.
• Grade 3: most of the uterus has fallen through the vaginal
opening. This is the most severe form of uterine prolapse and is
also called procidentia.
• Vaginal vault prolapse-the vaginal vault is the top of the
vagina. It can only fall in on itself after a woman's womb
has been removed (hysterectomy). Vault prolapse occurs
in about 15% of women who have had a hysterectomy for
uterine prolapse, and in about 1% of women who have had
a hysterectomy for other reasons.
Degree of prolapse
• First Degree: The uterus descends down from its anatomical
position ( external os at the level of ischial spines) but the
external os still remains inside vagina.
• Second Degree: The external os protrudes outside the vaginal
introits but the uterine body still remains inside the vagina
• Third Degree: The uterine cervix and body descends to lie
outside the introitus. It is also known as Procidentia or
complete prolapse
• Procidentia: prolapse of the uterus with eversion of entire
vagina. It is inevitably associated with cystocele and an
INVESTIGATION
• Haematology
• Rectal examination
• Pelvic examination
• Vaginal examination
• USG
• X- ray
• MRI
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
• Cystic swelling in the vagina
• Chronic inversion of the uterus
• Hypertrophy of the cervix
• All other causes of low backache and urinary symptoms
• Virginities: congestion of the vagina in case of severe
virginities may give the feeling of fullness of vagina.
Signs
• Utero-vaginal prolapse may be visible during inspection of the

vulva.
• In case of minor proplase it may become visible on straining .
• Rectal examination also differentiate between rectocele and
entercele.
Symptoms
• Feeling of something coming down per vagina discomfort on walking.
• Backache or dragging pain in the pelvis
• Dyspareunia
• Urinary symptoms: ( in presence of cystocele)
Difficulty is passing urine elevate anterior vaginal wall for bladder
evacuation
Incomplete evacuation lead to frequent desire to pass urine
Urgency and frequency of maturation may also be due to cystitis
Painful maturation is due to infection
Stress incontinence is usually associated due to urethrocele
Retention of urine
Management
• The Management of Uterine prolapse is described under the
following headings.
Prevention
Physiotherapy
Pessary
Surgical Treatment
PREVENTION
• Repeated childbirth with short intervals cause UV prolapse
• Women should be advised to avoid pregnancies in quick
succession Labour
1st Stage
• Avoid bearing down
• Breech or forceps delivery before full dilation of cervix shouldn’t
attempted
2nd Stage
• Avoid prolongation of this stage
• Perform episiotomy if tears or overstretching of perineum is feared
Contd…….
3rd Stage
• Avoid Crede’s method
• Episiotomy or tears should be carefully sutured
Puerperium
• Treat chronic cough and constipation
• Avoid strenuous exercises and standing for prolonged time.
Physiotherapy
• Early cases of UV prolapse are helped by pelvic floor

exercises. Particularly during puerperium and while waiting to
undergo surgical treatment.
• Kegel exercises are used to tone up pelvic musculature. These

exercises are done 3 times a day for 20 min each
Pessary Treatment
• A mechanical device for correcting and controlling UV prolapse

• A pessary does not cure UV prolapse
• It only holds the genital tract in position
• Advised for patients who cannot undergo surgery
 Types
Ring pessary
Hodge pessary
Indications
• During pregnancy (1st trimester)
• During puerperium
• Unfit for surgical treatment
• Patient’s choice
Management
• Choice of pessary ( ring pessaries commonly used)
• Size (depends upon size of vagina)
• Sterilization
• Insertion- before insertion the pessary is kept in hot water for few
minutes so that pessary become soft and easy to insert.
• Follow up
• Pessary should be removed, cleaned and reinserted at regular
intervals of 6-12 months
SURGICAL TREATMENT
• Vaginal Hysterectomy- most common operation and its
indication are:
• Post-menopausal prolapse
• Uterine pathology like small fibroids or adenomyosis
• Menstrual disorders such as dysfunctional uterine bleeding
• Prolapse during childbearing age, after completion of family
• Burch Operation- for relief of symptoms of cystocele.
• Anterior Colporrhaphy- for anterior vaginal wall prolapse.
• Posterior Colporrhaphy- for repair of the posterior vaginal wall
and perineum.
• Manchester Repair( Fothergill’s Operation)- for repair of
uterovaginal prolapse. Carried out in women of child bearing
age and haven’t completed their families and insist on
preservation of uterus
REFERENCE
• D C DUTTA : “A TEXT BOOK OF OBSTETRICS”

• POLDEN AND JILL MANTLE “ A TEXT BOOK OF PHYSIOTHERAPY IN OBSTETRICS
AND GYNAECOLOGY

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UTERINE PROLAPSE

Dr Smita Shinde( PT, PhD Scholar)

• Uterine prolapse means the uterus

• Activating factors: the utero vaginal prolapse is aggravated by

• Utero-vaginal prolapse may be visible during inspection of the

• Early cases of UV prolapse are helped by pelvic floor

• Kegel exercises are used to tone up pelvic musculature. These

• A mechanical device for correcting and controlling UV prolapse

• D C DUTTA : “A TEXT BOOK OF OBSTETRICS”

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