      
Heartland Women's Healthcare is the leader in personal and quality obstetrical and gynecological care in Southern Illinois.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse |
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), or the shifting of the organs "down there", can be
uncomfortable both physically and emotionally, causing women to limit their movements
because of pain, urinate more frequently, and avoid sex.
The organs in your pelvic cavity - uterus, vagina, bladder, and rectum - are held in place
by a web of muscles and connective tissues that act like a hammock. When these muscles
and tissues become weakened or damaged, one or more of the pelvic organs shift out of
normal position and literally "fall" into the vagina. As a result, the organs may press
against the vaginal wall and produce a hernia-like bulge causing discomfort, affecting
sexual activity and limiting physical activity.
Symptoms
As with any condition, there are different types of symptoms and degrees of severity. If
you have mild to moderate degrees of prolapse, you may experience a feeling of pressure
or heaviness in the pelvic area after being on your feet for a long time or after physical
exercise. As prolapse gets worse, various functional problems can develop, creating more
severe symptoms such as:
• Difficulty emptying the bladder
• Bowel problems including constipation
• Discomfort during intercourse
• Pressure or pain in the pelvic area and lower back
• Stress urinary incontinence (urine is leaked during activities such as laughing,
coughing, or exercising)
• A bulge or lump in the vagina
• A feeling that something is falling out of the vagina, like a tampon that is half in
and half out
If you think you have POP, it's important to speak to your doctor about which treatment
option could be right for you.
Treatment
The kind of treatment your doctor may suggest for you will be determined by the degree
and type of prolapse you have. Mild to moderate prolapse cases will often respond to
nonsurgical approaches. For some women, pelvic repair surgery may help restore their
quality of life.
Nonsurgical therapy
• The Kegels - We've all heard of them, those little muscle-building exercises you
can do and no one knows you're doing them. Women with mild degrees of
prolapse can often find relief by using Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic
floor muscles. In up to half of cases where the affected organ has not yet reached
the opening of the vagina, Kegel exercises alone can prevent worsening of the
condition.
• A Pessary - This is a custom-sized device that's inserted into the vagina to
support the pelvic organs. In cases where the prolapse has reached the opening of
the vagina or beyond, a properly fitted pessary can prevent further deterioration
for many years. These devices are often a good option for women who still want
to have children and for women who are not good candidates for surgery.
Surgical Therapy
Women who feel their condition compromises their quality of llife may want to consider
pelvic repair surgery. Prolapse repairs can be done through the vagina, abdominally, or
with minimally invasive techniques using a laparoscope. During the procedure, the
surgeon repositions the prolapsed organs and secures them to surrounding tissues and
ligaments, sometimes using synthetic mesh such as that for abdominal hernia repair.
With the newer minimally invasive treatments, surgery time is reduced, recovery time is
quicker, and many women can go home the next day.
If your doctor diagnoses you with SUI, a minimally invasive procedure can implant a
tension-free sling under the urethra, giving it the support it needs to seal properly. This
technique can be performed under local anesthesia in about 10 to 30 minutes by a trained
surgeon. Patients may be able to go home as early as a few hours after the procedure and
can expect a short recovery period. Sometimes this procedure is combined with pelvic
floor repair surgery. Your physician can advise you about the treatment option best for you.
|
About SUI |
Stress urinary incontinence, or SUI, is a real medical condition that's very common
because it's often a consequence of having babies. In fact, SUI affects more than 13
million American women.
You may have SUI if urine leaks when you:
• Cough, sneeze, or laugh
• Get up from a seated or lying position
• Exercise or lift something
Most women are so embarrassed about their SUI that they either don't admit it, or try to
have it fixed. Research shows that most women suffer 3 to 10 years before talking about
their symptoms with a doctor, which may explain why, according to the National
Association for Continence, women spend more money on feminine pads for
incontinence than menstruation!
The good news about SUI is that it's treatable, but first, it's important to talk to your
doctor and determine what treatment option is best for you based on your condition.
Your doctor may talk to you about several different treatment options, including:
• Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles
• Electrical stimulation to help return injured muscles to fitness and biofeedback
to record progress in strengthening treatments and exercises
• Medical devices that block or capture urine
• Minimally invasive surgery to repair or lift the urethra or bladder neck to
provide support
If a woman has finished having children, a minimally invasive treatment, called 'TVT' can
fix SUI, allowing her to return to a full and active life.
TVT (Tension-free Vaginal Tape) for incontinence can stop urine leakage by supporting
your urethra with a tape-like strip of mesh. Used in an approximately 30 minute outpatient
procedure, it has shown proven results for the treatment of SUI. A clinical study shows
that 7 years after treatment, 81% of women who were treated with TVT were cured and an
additional 16% were improved. To date, more than 1 million patients worldwide have
been treated.
What happens during the procedure?
Your doctor inserts a strip of mesh-like tape under the urethra to create a supportive sling.
This provides support and allows the urethra to remain closed when appropriate,
preventing urine loss during sudden movements or exercise.
The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes, and can be performed under local,
regional, or general anesthesia. Patients may be able to go home as early
as a few hours after the procedure, and patients can expect a short recovery period.
During this time, there should be little interference with daily activities, however, the
patient may be advised to avoid heavy lifting and intercourse for 4 weeks.
To find out if this treatment is right for you, ask your doctor. As with any surgery of this
kind, this procedure should not be performed in pregnant patients. Additionally, because
the mesh-like tape will not stretch significantly, TVT should not be used in women who
plan future pregnancy.
|
Endometrial Ablation Treatment For Menorrhagia |
Menorrhagia is excessive menstrual bleeding. If bleeding lasts 7 or more days per cycle,
or if it is so heavy that you need to change protection nearly every hour, you may have
menorrhagia. Talk to your doctor about your heavy bleeding. Only your doctor can tell
you for sure.
Women suffering form menorrhagia can experience fatigue, anemia, embarrassing
accidents, and restricted activity. If you're familiar with these effects, you know that
menorrhagia can disrupt your life.
If you have heavy periods, you are not alone. About 1 in 5 women experience excessive
menstrual bleeding. There are now more treatment options available to you.
One of the more effective treatments is endometrial ablation. Endometrial ablation is a
quick, outpatient procedure that gently removes the endometrial lining of the uterus
(called the 'endometrium') to control bleeding. The endometrial lining of the uterus is
shed monthly during your period. Removing the endometrial lining decreases menstrual
blood flow, and in many cases, stops it completely.
Endometrial ablation can be done either in an outpatient surgicenter, or in the doctor's
office. There are few side effects, and women generally return to work and other normal
activities the next day.
Most women see a significant reduction in their level of menstrual bleeding. In a
randomized, controlled clinical study, a majority of patients returning for follow-up at 12
months had their bleeding reduced to light or moderate periods. Many patients reported
that their bleeding had stopped completely. Several women may also experience the
added benefits of a significant reduction in painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea), as well
as a meaningful reduction in PMS symptoms.
Excellent results have led to very high satisfaction rates among patients treated with
endometrial ablation. According to results of a patient satisfaction survey, over 93% of
patients treated with endometrial ablation were satisfied or very satisfied with the
procedure 12 months after treatment, and 97% indicated that they would recommend
endometrial ablation to a friend.
|
Approved over the counter medications for expecting mothers |
| Colds, Flu, Fever (call if over 101°) | Tylenol (regular or extra strength) |
Headache | Tylenol (regular or extra strength) |
Nasal Drainage | Chlortrimeton, Sudafed, Tavist |
Head Congestion | Tylenol Sinus |
Cough | Robitussin |
Sore Throat | Chloraseptic, Cepacol lozenges |
Allergies | Benadryl |
Nausea | Emetrol, Dramamine |
Constipation | Milk of Magnesia, Metamucil, Fiberall, Konsyl Easy Mix, Colace |
Diarrhea | Immodium, Follow BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, tea or toast) |
Heartburn | Maalox, Mylanta, Tums |
Hemmorhoids | Tucks Pads, Anusol, Preparation H, Warm sitz |
|
|
