Enterocele – What is it, Symptoms and Treatments!
Enterocele – What it is, Symptoms and Treatment we should all know. Furthermore, Enterocele is a type of pelvic organ prolapse where the small intestine descends into the lower pelvic cavity. Learn more from our experts.
What is an Enterocele: Enterocele is the offspring of the small intestine in the lower pelvic cavity. When this occurs, the small intestine pushes against the top of the vagina, creating a bulge. It is a form of pelvic organ prolapse which is called an Enterocele.
What Causes Enterocele: When the support system that holds the pelvic organs in place becomes distressed, stretched, or torn, it allows the pelvic organs to move into new positions, causing a prolapse. Damage to these support systems can be caused by a number of different factors, such as:
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- Childbirth – Vaginal administration places stress on pelvic organs and supporting structures. The risk increases with the number and size of children.
- Surgery, such as a hysterectomy or radiation treatment to the pelvic area.
- Menopause – A woman’s ovaries stop producing hormones that regulate her monthly cycle. The hormone estrogen, which helps maintain muscle
- strong pelvises, is in short supply.
- Extreme physical activity or lifting heavy objects.
- be overweight
- chronic constipation
- Chronic cough (as seen in smokers or asthmatics)
- Genetic or Hereditary Factors – One person’s pelvic support system may be naturally weaker than another’s.
What are the Symptoms of Enterocele: In many cases, a woman will not experience symptoms of the prolapse and will only discover this during a normal pelvic exam. In cases where symptoms do occur, the following are the most common:
- A feeling of fullness, heaviness, or pain in the pelvic area. This feeling often gets worse as the day goes on or gets worse after standing still, getting up
- or cough.
- Pain in the lower back.
- Advancing in the vagina.
- Urine leakage.
- Frequent bladder infections .
- Problems with sexual intercourse.
- Problems inserting tampons.
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How and Treatment of Enterocele:
- Hysterectomy – Surgical removal of the uterus in cases of severe uterine prolapse.
- Uterine suspension – Returning the uterus to its normal position, either by attaching supporting tissue to the lower part of the uterus or by using a material
- mesh that forms a hem to keep it in place.
- Kegel Exercises – Tighten and relax the muscles used to control the flow of urine in order to strengthen the muscles that support the pelvic organs.
- Taking the hormone estrogen – Helps prevent further weakening of the pelvic support muscles, but has a number of possible effects
- negative side effects.
- Vaginal Pessary – A removable rubber or plastic device inserted into the vagina to provide support in the area of the prolapse. Pessaries are most commonly used
- when the patient wants to avoid surgery or has medical problems that make surgery too risky.