Causes of uterine prolapse

Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Uterine prolapse is a common gynecological condition, primarily caused by damage to the pelvic floor tissues during childbirth. As the fetus descends during labor, it can damage the pelvic floor muscles and fascia, leading to a reduction in their supportive strength, which in turn causes the prolapse of the uterus and vagina. Additionally, aging is another main cause of uterine prolapse. As age increases, relaxation of the cervix, various uterine ligaments, and pelvic floor fascial muscles also contribute significantly to uterine prolapse.

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Symptoms of uterine prolapse

The main symptom of uterine prolapse is the protrusion of a mass from the vaginal opening. Uterine prolapse can be divided into three degrees. In the first degree of uterine prolapse, only the cervix is visible at the vaginal opening. At this stage, symptoms are not very pronounced and may include rapid urination or urinary incontinence. In the second degree, the cervix and part of the uterine body protrude from the vaginal opening. This can lead to difficulty walking or abrasion, and bleeding from the vaginal opening may occur. If the entire uterus prolapses, it can lead to an inability to urinate or difficulty defecating. Patients may experience pain in the lower abdomen or difficulties and abrasion while walking, and severe cases can lead to bleeding from the cervix or significant discharge, potentially resulting in infection.

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What is a good treatment for uterine prolapse?

Generally, mild uterine prolapse does not have a significant impact on the body and can continue to be observed. It is also important to frequently perform anal contraction exercises to prevent the worsening of uterine prolapse. If uterine prolapse severely affects sexual life and normal daily activities, surgical treatment should be considered. This can include repair of the anterior and posterior vaginal wall, or partial cervical resection combined with repair of the anterior and posterior vaginal wall. If necessary, consider performing a vaginal hysterectomy. Regularly practicing yoga at home and running daily if possible can effectively enhance body resistance and also prevent severe uterine prolapse.

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What should not be eaten with uterine prolapse?

When a woman has uterine prolapse, it is best to avoid eating foods that are high in fats, such as fatty lamb chops and greasy pork, as these can lead to obesity in women, increase intra-abdominal pressure, and worsen symptoms of uterine prolapse. Also, avoid eating overly spicy foods, as spicy foods can induce constipation in women. Additionally, for some women who suffer from respiratory diseases, such as chronic pharyngitis, who already experience chronic coughing, eating spicy foods can exacerbate coughing symptoms, increase abdominal pressure, and lead to worsening uterine prolapse.

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What are the causes of uterine prolapse?

There are many causes of uterine prolapse in women, for instance, the most common one occurs during pregnancy and childbirth, especially when methods such as forceps delivery are used, which may damage the pelvic floor muscles or injure the vaginal wall. This causes damage to the pelvic floor muscles, and if not properly recovered postpartum, it can lead to prolapse. Additionally, some women might suffer from conditions like chronic pharyngitis, chronic bronchitis, long-term coughing, or have liver diseases or malignant tumors leading to a significant build-up of ascites. Frequent heavy physical labor or even simple obesity can increase abdominal pressure, causing uterine prolapse.

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Can a uterine prolapse be detected with an ultrasound?

Uterine prolapse is generally not diagnosed through ultrasound, as the standard for diagnosing uterine prolapse is a gynecological exam. During the gynecological examination, the level to which the cervix has descended is observed, whether it is in the middle of the vagina or has reached the vaginal opening, and in severe cases of uterine prolapse, the cervix can protrude out of the vaginal opening. Of course, if there is uterine prolapse, it can also be detected during an ultrasound, where the significantly lower position of the uterus is evident. However, in reality, to diagnose uterine prolapse, an ultrasound is not strictly necessary; a simple gynecological exam can suffice for diagnosis.