Repair of Prolapsed Vagina (Posterior)

A posterior prolapse occurs when your bowel drops down, causing a bulge that restricts the vaginal passage.  Your bladder may drop if the support tissue that runs between the vagina and bowel becomes weak.  You may notice an anterior prolapse by a sensation of ‘something coming down’ in the groin area, the feeling of not having fully emptied your bowel, or the need to press on the back wall of your vagina to fully empty your bowel.  You may also experience discomfort during sex or have difficulty keeping a tampon in.

Causes of a Prolapsed Vagina

A common cause of posterior prolapse is childbirth.  However, the condition can also arise for women who have never had children. 

If your condition is mild your doctor is likely to recommend non-surgical treatments.  Pelvic-floor exercises may be beneficial or a the usual treatments for constipation.

The Procedure

The posterior prolapse repair procedure is a surgical operation that takes roughly 30 minutes and is performed under general anaesthetic.  Your Consultant will make a cut on the back (posterior) wall of your vagina so they can push your bowel back into place.  They will use stitches to tighten the support tissues along the length of the back wall of your vagina.  Your Consultant will need to cut away a small part of your vaginal wall so they can remove excess tissue.  After undergoing surgery you should expect slight discharge or bleeding from the vagina.  If this becomes heavy consult your medical team for advice.

Patients who undergo the posterior prolapse repair procedure should be able to return home after 2 to 3 days.  Your doctor will recommend resting for at least 2 weeks and give you some exercises to perform in the meantime.  Do not have sex for 6 weeks or until bleeding or discharge has stopped.

Post-Operative Recovery

It is not recommended that you stand up for too long during recovery or that you lift heavy objects.  You may return to work once your Consultant has said that you are well enough to do so, usually after 6 to 8 weeks.  Regular exercise will help you return to normal activities as quickly as possible, but before proceeding beginning a course of exercise, consult your medical team for advice.

Continue your pelvic-floor exercises as soon as possible and keep doing them for life.  This will help to prevent the prolapse from coming back and reduce the risk of you becoming incontinent.

Need Help?

At One Healthcare we can book you in to see a specialist Gynaecology surgeon for an initial consultation, usually within 48 hours.  Repair of prolapsed vagina treatment is available at One Ashford Hospital in Kent and One Hatfield Hospital in Hertfordshire.

You can use your private medical insurance or pay for your Repair of Prolapsed Vagina (Posterior) treatment. We offer competitive, fixed price packages. If you are using your health insurance, please contact your insurer first for approval and let them know you’d like to be treated at either the One Ashford Hospital or One Hatfield Hospital.

Why One Healthcare

• Modern purpose-built hospital opened in March 2016 (Ashford) December 2017 (Hatfield)
• Fast access to diagnostics including MRI, X-ray and Ultrasound
• 0% and low finance options**
• Private, spacious, en-suite rooms
• Specialist Physiotherapy and nursing teams
• Little or no waiting time
• ‘Ultra clean air’ theatres
• Freshly prepared food
• Calm, dignified experience

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