does this sound like a prolapse?

[Tanfastic]

Hi wise women of mumsnet, I've read through lots of the archive re prolapses and I've a docs appointment somewhere on the horizon to have a gander but I just wanted to know your thoughts.

I have been having issues with my bladder for a few years now, slight leakage, nothing major and I've half-heartedly done some pelvic floor exercises over the years but nowhere near enough I assume.

I've had a couple of bladder infections recently which is unusual for me and I've been having a problem
Inserting tampons for a good few months now. Always feels like I can't get them far enough up and I can still feel them.

Also I've been feeling like there's something irritating down below lately so decided to have a look with a mirror.

Now I'm no expert on the female anatomy but it doesn't quite look like it should do I don't think .

My urethra looks bulgy (unless they are supposed to look like that?) and there is another lump which I'm wondering is my cervix that is sitting near to the entrance of my fanjo. I can push it with my finger but it comes back down.

Give me your horror stories

[Tanfastic]

A bit worried about seeing the GP as there are no female Gp's at my surgery. I asked the nurse when I had a smear but she said she couldn't comment it would have to be a doctor.

[Missgraeme]

I am I the same boat! Putting off as don't know if I can cope with
A someone prodding about down /up there
B knowing my bits are ruined
C facing any sort of precudure to fix it
When af has been I will make an app!!

[Tanfastic]

Missgraeme I hear ya! I'm also bothered that a make GP won't be as understanding or is dismissive but I've not a choice as no female GP!

What are your symptoms

[sadie9]

Hi Fantastic, sounds like a prolapse to me. The bulge you see/feel at the entrance may not be the cervix, it could be the bladder wall or the rectum wall pressing in there.
Does the lump go away when you lie down? I had a bladder prolapse (cystocele) and a smaller rectum prolapse (rectocycle) which I had repaired 2 years ago. However before I became menopausal I did a course of exercise with a specialist physio and that kept the symptoms not too bad. I couldn't use tampons after the birth of my last child (forceps, venthouse etc) as the prolapse would keep pushing them down. Sex was kind of ok (missionary position only). It is better now after the operation. I also had pressure down below, especially end of day. Plus some difficult with bowel movements - incomplete emptying, and stool feeling stuck (sorry TMI). A good course of pelvic floor exercises might help a lot under the guidance of a physio. They may also help a lot with the leaking. Things get worse after menopause as the loss of hormones make the ligaments holding the organs a bit slacker. Docs are reluctant to do operations on 'mild' cases if the women is young and may have another baby as the operation would have to be repeated, I think.

[sadie9]

Incidentally, my most sympathetic GP was male who said I had muscle damage there and referred me to the gynae. The lady GP I had seen a couple of years before that, told me to go home and do my pelvic floor exercises.
Yes it's embarrassing putting the legs up for the male GP but yours is only one of many many fanjos they will have seen that week!

[RNBrie]

I took mine to the gp earlier this week. I sat in the waiting room fighting the urge to flee... But it was completely fine. The exam took a couple of minutes and just involved a finger up the fanjo.

Have been referred for specialist physio and been reassured that it's not the end of the world.

I have a rectocele and "no significant uterine descent" which I presume is a good thing.

[Tanfastic]

Thanks ladies

I think I can cope with a finger up the fanjo

Incidentally I have only one child, he's 8 now and I had a c section and pre menopausal I assume at 43. This has never bothered me before I had DS so I assume it must be pregnancy related with carrying his weight around for nine months. My mum said it can't be a prolapse if I didn't have a vaginal birth but I don't think
That's correct is it?

[Tanfastic]

I mean what else could it be

[RNBrie]

Yeah apparently it's the pregnancy that does the damage more than the birth.... I've had three dc vaginally though so who knows.

Get thee to the gp.