Uterine prolapse is treated in the Department of Gynecology.

Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on February 28, 2025
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Uterine prolapse requires registration with the gynecology department as it is a type of gynecological disease. There are many causes of uterine prolapse, including pregnancy and childbirth. Particularly, vaginal delivery before childbirth or difficult deliveries involving suction can weaken the supporting strength of the pelvic fascia, ligaments, and muscles due to excessive stretching, leading to uterine prolapse. Additionally, aging, especially post-menopause, can cause an atrophy of the supporting structures, also leading to uterine prolapse. Other causes include chronic cough, abdominal effusion, and obesity, which can all lead to uterine prolapse. Therefore, once uterine prolapse occurs, it is necessary to promptly visit a hospital for examination to determine the extent of the prolapse, and treatment should be conducted according to the examination results.

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Written by Hou Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What are the symptoms of uterine prolapse?

Mild uterine prolapse may have no clinical symptoms, while severe cases can feel a sense of falling and lower back pain, along with a mass protruding from the vagina. This mass may increase and the sensation of falling becomes more pronounced with long periods of standing, vigorous activity, or increased abdominal pressure. If there is a bulge in the anterior vaginal wall or the bladder, with the urethra and the posterior angle of the bladder becoming sharp, it can lead to difficulty urinating or urinary retention. If a urinary tract infection occurs subsequently, symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination may arise. If the bulge in the bladder coincides with a urethral bulge and a complete protrusion of the anterior vaginal wall, where the posterior angle of the urethra and bladder disappears, urinary leakage can occur during coughing, straining, or other activities that increase abdominal pressure, leading to what is called stress urinary incontinence.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Will intercourse worsen uterine prolapse?

Uterine prolapse in women can be categorized into mild, moderate, and severe based on the symptoms. It occurs due to damage to the pelvic floor muscles, causing the uterus to descend from its original position and protrude through the vagina. Normal sexual activity does not affect the function of the pelvic floor muscles nor exacerbate the symptoms of uterine prolapse. However, in certain cases, such as severe prolapse where part of the uterus extends beyond the vaginal opening, like when the cervix is exposed outside the vagina, friction between the cervix and underwear might occur during normal walking or activities. This friction can cause small ulcers that may bleed or become infected, producing purulent discharge during sexual intercourse.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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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Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can uterine prolapse be seen with the naked eye?

Uterine prolapse occurs when the uterus descends from its normal position, falling along the vaginal opening and moving out of its normal location, with the cervix or the entire uterus reaching or completely coming out of the vaginal opening. The main causes of uterine prolapse are childbirth injuries, prolonged increased abdominal pressure, and poor development of pelvic floor tissues. In mild cases of uterine prolapse, patients mostly do not have any symptoms and the condition is only identified during a gynecological examination. However, in severe cases of uterine prolapse, patients feel a mass coming out of the vaginal opening while walking, working, or squatting, and in serious cases, the entire uterus can completely prolapse out of the vaginal opening, becoming visible to the naked eye.

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Imaging Center
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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.