Is This Common?
Yes, incredibly so. Up to half of all women will experience some degree of POP in their lifetime, especially after childbirth and menopause. It is one of the most common reasons women seek care from a specialist like Dr. Guerette.
Common Signs and Causes of Prolapse
What are the Symptoms? The most common symptom is the sensation of a bulge in the vagina. Other signs include:
- A feeling of pressure, fullness, or aching in the pelvis or low back.
- Discomfort or a “hitting” sensation during intercourse.
- Symptoms that worsen as the day goes on, or with coughing or standing.
- The need to use a finger to support the bulge in order to urinate or have a bowel movement.
- Co-existing issues like leaking urine when you cough, laugh, or exercise (stress incontinence) or difficulty controlling bowel movements.
Why Does Prolapse Happen?
The pelvic floor can weaken for several reasons, with vaginal childbirth being the single most common factor. Other significant causes include the natural aging process and loss of estrogen during menopause, chronic pressure from heavy lifting or coughing, obesity, hysterectomy, and genetic predispositions to weaker connective tissue.
Your Path to Diagnosis at IWI
Your journey to relief begins with a comfortable and comprehensive consultation. The IWI team, led by Dr. Guerette, will listen carefully to your symptoms and perform a gentle pelvic exam to assess the type and severity of your prolapse. For most women, this exam is all that is needed for an accurate diagnosis. We use a standard staging system to classify the prolapse, which helps us design the perfect treatment plan for you. In many cases, we may recommend additional tests like bladder function studies or imaging to get a complete picture of your pelvic health.
Your Treatment Options: A Personalized IWI Plan
As the region’s leading specialized practice for POP, we offer the widest and most advanced array of treatments available here. We will partner with you to select the best treatment for your specific type of prolapse, your health, and your life goals.
A. Non-Surgical Solutions
For many women, especially those with milder prolapse, non-surgical options are an excellent and effective first step.
- Vaginal Pessary: A simple, removable silicone device inserted into the vagina to provide internal support for the sagging organs.
- Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: Our expert partner therapists can teach you targeted exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
- Advanced Pelvic Floor Strengthening (Emsella™): IWI was a pioneer in developing this revolutionary, FDA-cleared treatment. You simply sit on a chair, fully clothed, for a 28-minute session while it uses electromagnetic energy to deliver the equivalent of 11,000 perfect Kegels. This strengthens ALL the pelvic floor muscles, restoring support and improving bladder control. Dr. Guerette was the lead investigator on the studies to evaluate Emsella, and IWI has the most experience with this technology in North America.
- Vaginal Tissue Rejuvenation (Laser & RF): Another area pioneered by Dr. Guerette, these simple, painless office treatments use energy to stimulate new collagen growth, new blood vessels, and nerves, tightening and restoring the health of the vaginal tissue itself to improve support and reduce symptoms.
B. World-Class Surgical Reconstruction
For more significant prolapse, surgery may be the best option to restore your anatomy and provide lasting relief. Dr. Guerette is one of the most experienced and respected minimally invasive pelvic reconstructive surgeons in the world.
- Dr. Guerette’s Specialized Approach: Restoring Anatomy, Preserving Function: His philosophy is to keep all procedures as minimally invasive as possible. He has personally developed many of the advanced techniques used today, including specialized techniques that use collagen grafts instead of synthetic mesh, providing durable, excellent results without the risks associated with mesh.
- A Special Commitment to Uterine Preservation: For women suffering from uterine prolapse, hysterectomy is often presented as the only option. IWI and Dr. Guerette are strong advocates for giving women a choice. He is the only surgeon in the region who specializes in advanced techniques to re-suspend and save the uterus, respecting a woman’s child-bearing wishes or her desire to maintain her uterus.
- Advanced Robotic Surgery for Complex Prolapse: For the most complex cases, Dr. Guerette is the most experienced robotic female pelvic reconstructive surgeon in the region, having performed over 3,000 procedures since 2006. He uses the da Vinci® Robotic System to perform intricate repairs through tiny incisions, leading to less pain and a faster recovery. He was integral in pioneering robotic surgery at his medical center expanding from 1 robot in 2009 to now over a dozen. Creating one of the largest robotic surgery centers in the country.
Prevention and Long-Term Health
While some risk factors are out of your control, you can support your pelvic floor health by maintaining a healthy weight, preventing constipation with a high-fiber diet, avoiding smoking, and using proper lifting techniques. Left untreated, prolapse and its symptoms will likely worsen over time.
Your Journey to Relief Begins Here
Living with pelvic organ prolapse can be challenging, but you do not have to navigate it alone. With the right expert care, you can find significant and lasting relief.
Contact The Intimate Wellness Institute of Virginia today to schedule your private, compassionate consultation with Dr. Guerette. Let us help you restore your confidence and achieve your personal wellness goal.
