Sometimes, this data is shocking to people, but while it is not talked about a lot, the fact is that prolapses are common.
Indeed, some women are actually unaware of a prolapse too and the diagnoses come as somewhat of a surprise, perhaps through a smear test or other routine test – because sometimes no obvious symptoms are present.
If you have been diagnosed with a prolapse though, the first thing to remember is not to panic. They are not life threatening and there are ways you can help to treat it without the need for surgery.
Anything from lifestyle changes to gentle exercises can help you to treat a prolapse without the need for surgery – so I’m going to explore your options a little more with our handy guide.
So, if you’re ready to learn more – then read on for the answers.
Prolapse Treatments Without Surgery
I’m going to kick off this guide by looking at some of your options for treating a prolapse without any surgery being required.
However, I will preface this by saying that sometimes surgery might be the right choice for you – so always speak with your GP about your options.
Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegel Exercises)
One of the best ways you might treat a prolapse at home without the need for surgery is by performing daily pelvic floor exercises, which are otherwise known as kegel exercises.
Many women have tried these exercises before at some point in their lives, but not everyone chooses to keep these exercises up everyday – and some do not believe that these exercises are effective anyway.
While it is pretty common for people to have difficulty finding the right muscles, some people simply decide that these exercises aren’t for them before they have had the chance to see any benefit from them.
However, it’s beneficial to stick to them and keep up these exercises on a daily basis. This will increase the strength and tone in the muscles and hold your pelvic organs back into place.
If you are hoping to make these exercises much more effective though, you may decide to look at purchasing an electronic pelvic toner which has targeted exercises and help you to get the most out of your exercise.
You can also find apps like the NHS squeezy app which can help you with your exercises and remind you to carry them out.
Changing Your Lifestyle
I understand that it sounds much easier to do than it actually is, but many lifestyle changes can be massively beneficial and prevent a prolapse in the future – whilst also helping to treat one.
This is especially true when done in conjunction with other options like the previous exercises we spoke about.
Changes as basic as avoiding heavy lifting, improving your diet, taking in more vitamins and minerals, reducing BMI and treating coughs can help.
Indeed, the latter is often overlooked. Heavy and persistent coughs can be seriously detrimental to prolapse recovery, and of course can be indicative of other potential health conditions.
It’s also important to note that reducing your BMI is very subjective and needs to be done in conjunction with your GP’s recommendations.
Do not carry out heavy and intense exercise if you are treating a prolapse either.
Vaginal Pessaries
Vaginal pessaries are growing in terms of their popularity with women who are looking to treat prolapses and strengthen their pelvic floor. In fact, some women choose this method as a permanent fixture to their lives.
It’s important to have this changed every six months though by a trained healthcare professional. There are plenty of benefits to vaginal pessaries, up to and including the following:
Oestrogen creams can be prescribed in some cases and these will boost your hormones which you may lack postmenopausal throughout ageing.
Aside from this though, your GP might recommend a course of vitamin D3 tablets.
This is a great all round supplement to take as it can help with things like period pains and other muscle aches.
The benefits of this type of treatment is that it is simple and if it is effective, you do not need to do anything further.
However, sometimes this type of treatment is not enough or is simply ineffective.
Surgery – Should You Choose It?
Typically, only women with the most severe grade of prolapse will need surgery. Your GP will be able to categorise the severity of the prolapse.
So, really surgery is the last resort for women when it comes to treatment for a prolapse.
In reality, the important thing to know is that preventive measures are always going to be the best decision for you.
Once you have received a diagnosis from your GP, you should go through your options with them and see what they think is the best course of action.
Remember to remain communicative with your GP if you decide to treat a prolapse at home with some of these options, and always contact them with any concerns.
The Bottom Line
And that’s all you need to know about fixing a prolapse without surgery. I hope this guide has been useful for you. Good luck!
I'm Clare, the owner and operator of Off The Couch, where I serve as a qualified Nutrition & Health Coach.
Based in Dublin, Ireland, I offer coaching services both locally and globally, providing personalized strategies in nutrition, stress management, sleep quality, and fitness.
My journey into this field began as I navigated my own chronic illnesses, including early menopause, Interstitial Cystitis, Lyme Disease, and hydrocephalus.
