What is a vaginal prolapse and a prolapsed womb?
The normal anatomy of the female pelvis is illustrated in Figure 2.1. The walls of the vagina have elasticity to facilitate intercourse and childbirth. If the support is weakened a prolapsed womb may develop. The prolapse may involve the womb, which descends into the vagina and may eventually protrude from the vaginal opening. The concept that all vaginal prolapses relate to the womb (uterus Figure 30.1) is incorrect. Sometimes it is the front or back walls of the vagina which are bulging with associated distortion of the bladder (cystocoele – bladder prolapse Figure 30.2) or rectum (rectocoele Figure 30.3). If you have had a hysterectomy the vault of the vault (top) of the vagina can prolapse. Sometimes the bowel may prolapse under the posterior (back) wall of the vagina (enterocele Figure 30.4). Figure 30.2 Bladder Prolapse – Cystocoele Figure 30.4 Prolapse of the Bowel – Enterocele What are the symptoms associated with prolapsed womb? Usually there is a feeling of ‘something coming
