Bookmark  Print
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) will not go away without treatment. The first thing your doctor will probably recommend is Kegel exercises (alternately contracting and relaxing your pelvic floor muscles) as part of your daily routine. In some cases, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes or hormone therapy to reduce your symptoms. If these are ineffective, you may need to seek a more aggressive treatment.
Insertable Device
A pessary is a small, removable device, often shaped like a ring, that is placed in the upper part of the vagina to support the pelvic organs. Pessaries do not actually cure pelvic organ prolapse, but they can help relieve symptoms and keep the prolapse from worsening.

Surgery
Surgical procedures to treat pelvic organ prolapse usually do two things: put the prolapsed organs back in their normal locations or remove them and reinforce the weakened pelvic floor. Often a graft or mesh is placed to reinforce the repair.

There are three main categories of tissue repair materials:
  • Biodesign: Biodesign Advanced Tissue Repair Products are a whole new category in tissue repair, combining the best attributes of synthetic mesh and biologic grafts. Biodesign is a natural material that communicates with your body, signaling it to grow new tissue across the graft. Once the healing process is finished, the graft is completely remodeled into your own tissue.

  • Synthetic Mesh: Most synthetic mesh is made from a type of plastic called polypropylene. Although mesh is commonly used, it can cause problems after implantation. The body may respond to the mesh as a foreign material, causing the mesh to become surrounded by scar tissue, or the mesh can erode the surrounding tissue. In 2008, the FDA issued a public health notification regarding complications of synthetic mesh.

  • Biologic Grafts: Derived from human or animal tissue, biologic grafts typically allow cells to grow into the graft and replace it, a process called remodeling. Some biologic grafts are made from skin tissue, which makes them prone to stretching and bulging. Other biologic grafts are chemically cross-linked to strengthen the material. However, when these grafts are implanted, your body may respond to them as if they were a synthetic mesh.



Biodesign may not be the appropriate treatment option for your condition.
Information provided on this site is not intended to replace consultation with a medical professional.