Vaginal Relaxation
and Functional GYN Problems |
Thirty million
American women suffer from symptoms of vaginal relaxation and stress
urinary incontinence. Many women have difficulty controlling
their urine in certain situations or notice changes in their bowel
habits. These two symptoms may be related to a common set of
problems that may occur as a result of childbirth, aging or a
combination of both. Grouped together these problems are referred to
as pelvic relaxation. |
Many
women suffer unnecessarily from conditions involving pelvic relaxation.
If you have any of these symptoms described in this section, contact us
at (809) 687 7667 - (809) 763 2586 or E-mail us. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment will often restore patients to a
life free of the aggravations and discomforts associated with pelvic
relaxation. |
The goal
is to acquaint you with the various forms of pelvic relaxation as well
as their causes, symptoms, and treatment. The pelvic organs include the
vagina, uterus, bladder, and rectum. These organs are held in position
by three types of supports: 1) muscles, 2) sheets of tissue called
fascia 3) and ligaments. When these supports become damaged for various
reasons, one or more of the pelvic organs my sag and, occasionally, even
protrude outside the vagina. These are called pelvic support defects. |
During
childbirth, as the baby passes through the birth canal, the muscles,
fascia, and ligaments separate and may be weakened. This weakening
gradually worsens and, in later years, may cause the pelvic organs to
drop from their normal positions. |
Occasionally, this weakening of the muscles and tissue may occur in
women who have never had children. In these women, the cause may be: |
-
Inherited weakness of the supporting tissues
-
Unusual
strain placed on the supporting tissues by a chronic cough
-
Unusual
increases in abdominal pressure
-
Obesity
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Cistocele | Rectocele |
Enterocele | Uretrocele | Prolapso uterino |
The
general symptoms associated with pelvic relaxation depend on which
organs are affected. Often there is a feeling of heaviness or fullness.
Small or moderate amounts of urine may be lost with normal physical
activities such as laughing, coughing, walking, or running. In more
advanced and rare cases a mass may actually protrude from the vaginal
opening. Based on the organ or organs involved, pelvic support defects
can be defined more specifically as: |
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A cystocele occurs when the bladder falls or descends from its
normal position. The most common symptom associated with cystocele is
difficulty in completely emptying the bladder. This can be associated
with bladder infections. Large cystoceles can cause the bladder to
overfill and allow small amounts of urine to leak. Leakage is most
common during activity such as walking or bouts of coughing. |
A urethrocele usually
occurs in conjunction with a cystocele. Both of these conditions result
in, among other things, involuntary loss of urine, particularly when
there is increased pressure in the abdomen, caused by walking, jumping,
coughing, sneezing, laughing, or sudden movements. Rectoceles happen
when the rectum bulges into or out of the vagina. |
Rectoceles usually
occur as a result of injuries sustained during childbirth. With a
weakened or bulging rectum, bowel movements become more difficult. |
An enterocele is the bulging of small intestines into the back wall of
the vagina. |
Uterine
prolapse occurs when the uterus falls or is displaced from its normal
position. There are varying degrees of severity depending on the
descent. This produces a general felling of heaviness and fullness, or a
sense that the uterus is falling out. |
The diagnosis of these problems includes a through history and physical
examination. Other test depending on the circumstances include a "Q-tip"
test, urodynamic studies (a painless fifteen to twenty minute
computerized bladder and urethra functional studies), urethrocystoscopy
(instrument used to evaluate the inside of the bladder and urethra),
X-rays of the urinary system. |
For
all practical purposes, definitive treatment is surgical correction of
the specific defects. |
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