How do you tell the health of your uterus or if everything in your reproductive system is in its place? Your uterus, as known as the womb, is usually held inside by the muscles, tissue, and ligaments of your pelvis. Due to childbirth or menopause, women often feel their pelvic muscles weaken, and they begin feeling the signs of a prolapsed uterus.
But how can you tell if you have this uterine complication? There are signs and symptoms to know, so you need to take immediate action for to avoid severe complications. Knowing what happens with a prolapsed uterus helps women to understand what is entirely happening to their bodies.
What is a Prolapsed Uterus?
A prolapsed uterus happens when weakness in your muscles in the pelvic area allows for your uterus to begin sagging or ultimately come out of your body. Women often feel pressure in their vaginal canal or as though something is coming out of their vagina.
What happens with a prolapsed uterus? It has various degrees of sagging until entirely coming out of the body:
- First degree: Your cervix falls into the vagina
- Second degree: Cervix drops into the level of the opening of the vagina
- Third degree: The cervix is outside of the vagina
- Fourth degree: The entire uterus is on the outside of the vagina due to the weakness of the supporting muscles of the pelvis.
Depending on your age and whether you wish to become pregnant, surgery can repair the uterus or remove it by way of a hysterectomy. The best way to care for your muscle strength and avoid a prolapsed uterus is to prevent constipation by eating a high-fiber diet, maintain a healthy weight, avoid heavy lifting or straining and most importantly strengthen your pelvic muscles with Kegel exercises.
What causes a prolapsed uterus?
Other than the weakness of pelvic muscles, there are various causes for this uterine condition:
- Major surgery in the pelvic area with a loss of external support
- Weakness in the pelvis due to advancing age
- Loss of tissue tone after menopause
- Obesity or being overweight
- Pregnancy and childbirth with complications in delivery through the vagina
Signs of a Prolapsed Uterus
Do you know when exactly your uterus is prolapsed? It is essential to understand the signs to look for to help avoid something severe from occurring.
These are several symptoms to look for:
- Discomfort walking
- Low back pain
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Feeling pressure in your pelvis; some women describe it as sitting on a small ball
- Difficulty with urination and bowel movements
- Sensation of something coming out of your vagina
When should you seek medical attention for a prolapsed uterus?
Consult with your doctor for symptoms or abnormal sensations in your pelvic area to help determine if you are suffering from a prolapsed uterus.
If you have any of the following severe symptoms, visit your doctor for treatment options:
- Persistent discomfort of rectal urgency (urge to have a bowel movement) or urinary dribbling
- Continuing lower back pain causing trouble walking, moving your bowels, or urinating
- Feeling your cervix near the opening of the vaginal canal
- Pressure in your vaginal canal
- Sensation of something coming out of your vagina
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