Yes, you can have a pelvic organ prolapse (POP) at 22, as it's more common than people think, even in young women who haven't given birth, though childbirth is a major risk factor. Causes can include connective tissue issues (like low collagen), chronic coughing, heavy lifting, constipation, or genetic predisposition, and some mild forms might be a normal variation, with symptoms ranging from none to noticeable bulging or dragging sensations.
Prolapse is when one or more of your pelvic organs shift out of place. It is a common condition affecting 6% of women under 30, 30% of women age 51-59 years and 50% of women over 80.
In the first stage of prolapse, you may feel some mild pressure in your vagina as well as mild back pain. Left untreated, the prolapse may advance and lead to more pressure and pain. During the later stages, you may also notice tissue protruding from your vaginal opening.
Early signs of pelvic organ prolapse often include a feeling of pelvic pressure or heaviness, a bulge or tissue at the vaginal opening (especially after activity), lower back pain, and changes in bladder/bowel habits like difficulty emptying or leakage, with symptoms often worsening at the end of the day and improving with rest. You might also notice pain during sex, a weak urine stream, or recurrent UTIs, as pelvic floor muscles weaken and organs shift.
According to the Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse, over 50% of women over 50 have some form of this disorder. The most common disorders that pelvic organ prolapse is mistakenly diagnosed as include urinary and fecal incontinence, constipation, and irritable bowel disease.
A small posterior vaginal prolapse (rectocele) might cause no symptoms. Otherwise, you may notice: A soft bulge of tissue in the vagina that might come through the opening of the vagina.
Yes, many women are able to feel a prolapse with their finger, especially if the bulge is close to the vaginal opening. The tissue may feel soft, smooth, or slightly firm, depending on the type and stage of prolapse.
Gripping the base of protruded lump at introitus (Grip test) by thumb and fingers identifies second or third degree uterine pro- lapse. Visible stress incontinence is identified on cough- ing.
Pelvic organ prolapse is common in women over 50. It can affect anyone with a vagina. It may not cause symptoms, but if you do have symptoms they can include: a feeling of heaviness, discomfort or pressure in your lower tummy or vagina.
In moderate cases, your doctor may insert a vaginal pessary to support your vaginal wall. In the most severe cases, you may benefit from surgery, such as colposuspension, a minimally invasive surgical procedure, where the vaginal wall is attached to a stable ligament in the pelvis.
Possible symptoms include:
The most common cases are mild, and the prolapse may correct itself or not drop down further after some time, with or without treatment. But sometimes it can get worse. Stage I: Mild prolapse, where organs are still somewhat supported by the pelvic floor and may have dropped into the upper part of the vagina.
A weak pelvic floor in your 20s can stem from various lifestyle choices and habits. Being overweight or obese (1) places extra pressure on these muscles, potentially weakening them over time. High-impact exercises or heavy lifting without proper technique can also strain the pelvic floor.
Early on, you may not know you have a prolapse. Your doctor or nurse might see your prolapse when you have your routine Pap test.
There are many symptoms of POP, which usually develop over time. Occasionally POP happens suddenly. For example, a woman could be doing squats at the gym that cause the last bit of support from weak connective tissue to give way.
Early signs of pelvic organ prolapse often include a feeling of pelvic pressure or heaviness, a bulge or tissue at the vaginal opening (especially after activity), lower back pain, and changes in bladder/bowel habits like difficulty emptying or leakage, with symptoms often worsening at the end of the day and improving with rest. You might also notice pain during sex, a weak urine stream, or recurrent UTIs, as pelvic floor muscles weaken and organs shift.
Speak to your doctor if:
You think you might have a prolapse or you have symptoms of a prolapse such as: a feeling of a bulge or something coming down the vagina. a feeling of a bulge or something coming out the vagina, which sometimes needs pushed back up (you may be able to see this with a mirror)
Nearly one-half of all women between ages 50 and 79 have some degree of uterine or vaginal vault prolapse, or some other form of pelvic organ prolapse. Factors that increase your risk of uterine prolapse include childbirth, age, obesity, chronic constipation and having a hysterectomy.
Here are 12 not so obvious signs your pelvic floor is tight:
A bimanual exam is done to check the pelvic organs (such as the uterus and ovaries). The doctor places two gloved, lubricated fingers into the vagina while pressing on the abdomen with the other hand (bimanual means with two hands). This allows the doctor to check the size and shape of the pelvic organs.
Tests for pelvic organ prolapse can include:
During menstrual bleeding, the cervix is normally low and hard, and slightly open to allow the blood to flow out. It feels like the tip of your nose. After your period stops, the cervix remains low and hard and the opening to the uterus (uterine is) remains closed.
The effectiveness of Kegel exercises may depend upon prolapse severity. Kegels have been shown to have most benefit for women with mild to moderate prolapse severity. In women with severe prolapse, Kegels are not likely to improve pelvic prolapse symptoms or severity.
Symptoms may intensify as the prolapse worsens. You may feel a small bulge in the vagina or at the vaginal opening. Many of my patients describe the sensation as feeling like they're sitting on a small ball. You may even be able to feel a bulge, or see it if you examine your vagina with a mirror.