Are you or your wife/husband suffering from "Vaginal Relaxation"?

Did you know that about 35 million to 40 million American women – and their husbands and partners - are suffering from “vaginal relaxation.”?  

“Vaginal Relaxation” is often referred to as a “loose vagina” wherein the vagina is not as tight as it once was, whether due to vaginal childbirth, age, or other vaginal trauma. The vagina has become relaxed, or loose, and now it has become a problem for the woman, as well as her husband/partner.  

Some women, as another symptom of Vaginal Relaxation, have problems controlling their urine in certain situations or notice changes in their bowel habits. These symptoms of Vaginal Relaxation are typically related to one or more problems that occur as a result of vaginal childbirth, other vaginal trauma, aging or a combination of the above.  

There is hope!  Women, and their husbands/partners, no longer need to suffer from Vaginal Relaxation.  More and more doctors are treating women and couples suffering from Vaginal Relaxation with treatments – sometimes including surgery – that will help them return to a life without the embarrassment, disappointments and heartache of the symptoms and discomforts associated with Vaginal Relaxation.

What Women and their Husbands Need to Know About "Vaginal

Relaxation"

"Vaginal Relaxation" is a common condition of most women who have undergone vaginal childbirth.  Vaginal relaxation refers to the loss of vaginal tone of the vaginal supporting structures.  Symptoms of vaginal relaxation may become progressively aggravated and especially bothersome as a woman approaches menopause and post-menopause. 

Some doctors and researchers believe that there may be a disruption (rather than stretching) of the vaginal ligaments during childbirth in women with vaginal relaxation. 

Symptoms of vaginal relaxation include a protrusion or heavy, or "falling" feeling in a woman's vagina.  Other symptoms may include low back pain, painful intercourse, difficulty initiating stool or urination, stress urinary incontinence, and pelvic pain or pressure. 

What is a Vaginal Vault Prolapse?

The vaginal vault is the area at the top of the vagina, next to and adjacent to the cervix. It can only “fall” or descend downwards toward the introitus, or the entrance of the vagina, after a woman's womb has been removed (hysterectomy). Vaginal Vault Prolapse occurs in about 15% of women who have had a hysterectomy for uterine prolapse, and in about 1% of women who have had a hysterectomy for other reasons.

What is Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Pelvic Organ Prolapse is a very common condition, particularly among older women. It's estimated that half of women who have children will experience some form of Pelvic Organ Prolapse in later life. Many women, particularly because they may no longer be sexually active, and fail to continue receiving their annual pelvic exams, don't seek help from their doctor. Therefore, the actual number of women affected by Pelvic Organ Prolapse is unknown. 

Pelvic Organ Prolapse may also be called; genital prolapse, pelvic relaxation, pelvic prolapse, uterine prolapse, uterovaginal prolapse, pelvic floor disorder, urogenital prolapse or vaginal wall prolapse.

What is Pelvic Prolapse?

Pelvic Prolapse is another term used for "Pelvic Organ Prolapse."  Pelvic Prolapse is a very common condition, particularly among older women. It's estimated that half of women who have children will experience some form of Pelvic Organ Prolapse in later life. Many women, particularly because they may no longer be sexually active, and fail to continue receiving their annual pelvic exams, don't seek help from their doctor. Therefore, the actual number of women affected by Pelvic Organ Prolapse is unknown. 

Pelvic Prolapse may also be called; genital prolapse, pelvic relaxation, uterine prolapse, uterovaginal prolapse, pelvic floor disorder, urogenital prolapse or vaginal wall prolapse.

What is a Prolapsed Uterus?

A Prolapsed Uterus refers to a collapsed uterus, or descended uterus, or other change in the position of the uterus in relation to the surrounding structures within the pelvis. The pelvis contains many soft tissue structures vital to normal body functions, supported primarily by the diaphragms, layers of muscles, fibrous coverings called fasciae, and various ligaments and tendons. These soft tissues of the pelvis derive their ultimate support from the bony pelvis. 

A Prolapsed Uterus may be one of three types, depending on the severity: