How do you make an official diagnosis of prolapse (a fallen bladder, rectum, or uterus)?
Dr. Alinsod: After we review the patient’s history, I examine them for the first time and determine how severe the prolapse is by grading it based on certain measurements. Depending on what is found, I may recommend a bladder study to figure out if they are having spasms in their bladder, how much urine their bladder will hold, and if they retain urine. Certain pressure studies and muscle function studies are done at the same time. It’s about a 15-30 minute procedure that we do in the office and it helps to find what is causing the leakage, because all leakage is not from childbirth. There are other causes of leakage. The study helps me decide if and what type of incontinence surgery is needed. So that’s the majority of the workup. Sometimes we do an ultrasound or order an MRI, but those are rare. Also, a diagnosis is done by physical exam. If during physical exam they tell me they don’t like the appearance of their labia, or they feel that they’re stretched out so much that their not
