What does uterine prolapse feel like?

When uterine prolapse occurs, the patient can actually feel it clearly, because in the first stage of uterine prolapse, the cervical opening will be very close to the vaginal opening, and the patient will also frequently experience lower back pain. If it is not treated in time, the cervix will protrude from the vaginal opening, which is obviously abnormal.

Causes of uterine prolapse:

1. Birth injury: the main cause

Childbirth (especially multiple childbirths) → the pelvic floor muscles, fascia and ligaments are overstretched, the tension is reduced, and even torn + before recovery after childbirth, premature participation in heavy physical labor → increased abdominal pressure, the uterus is pushed along the vaginal axis into the vagina → uterine prolapse.

2. Long-term increase in abdominal pressure: such as long-term chronic cough, rectal stenosis leading to difficulty in defecation, overload (shoulder carrying, weightlifting, long-term standing, etc.), and huge tumors or large amounts of ascites in the pelvic cavity → increased intra-abdominal pressure → directly acting on the uterus → causing the uterus to move downward along the vagina → uterine prolapse.

3. Pelvic floor tissue hypoplasia or degeneration: Uterine prolapse is occasionally seen in nulliparous women or even virgins. The main cause of such patients is congenital pelvic floor tissue hypoplasia. The pelvic floor tissue in elderly women atrophies and degenerates → uterine prolapse or worsening of prolapse.

What are the symptoms of uterine prolapse:

Most patients with grade I have no symptoms. Patients with grades II and III often present with clinical manifestations of varying degrees.

There is discharge of swelling from the vaginal opening: Those with Grade II will feel swelling discharged from the vagina when the abdominal pressure increases during activities such as walking, defecation, labor, squatting, etc., but the swelling will shrink or disappear after lying down to rest. In grade III cases, the swelling cannot shrink on its own even after rest, and often needs to be pushed back into the vagina by hand. If the prolapsed uterus and vaginal mucosa are highly edematous, it will be difficult to return them, and the uterus will remain prolapsed for a long time, causing difficulty in movement.

Secondary infection of ulcer: prolapsed cervix, long-term friction between vaginal wall → ulcer, even bleeding. If the ulcer is not treated, it is easy to cause secondary infection and secretion of pus and blood.

Urinary retention and stress urinary incontinence: Grade III is often accompanied by severe anterior vaginal wall prolapse, which makes urinary retention prone to occur. In severe cases, stress urinary incontinence may occur.