What Is the Treatment for a Prolapsed Cervix?

Treatments for a prolapsed cervix include strengthening pelvic muscles through various types of exercise, the use of a vaginal pessary, and, in certain cases, surgery. The treatments used or recommended largely depend on the severity of the condition as well as a woman's plans to have children or her desire to avoid losing her uterus to a hysterectomy. Not all women who experience a prolapsed cervix will necessarily need to receive medical treatment, as the symptoms of a pelvic prolapse may be mild and not have a significant effect on the life of a woman who is experiencing them.

A prolapsed cervix occurs when a woman's pelvic muscles weaken to the point that her uterus begins to slip down. Initially, a woman may not even be aware of the condition, as the cervix may simply dip into the vaginal canal and she may not experience any discomfort. If and as the prolapse progresses, she may be able to feel a bulge in her vagina, which could be the result of the prolapsed cervix or other conditions brought on by the weakening of her pelvic tissue.

When a woman first seeks treatment for a prolapsed cervix, her health care provider may advise her to perform exercises that can help strengthen her pelvic floor. These exercises, which can include Kegel excercises, can restore strength to that area and may be able to prevent further prolapse. In cases where the prolapse is more advanced, a woman may be advised to undergo physical therapy or even electronic stimulation therapy, both of which can likewise halt the progression of the prolapse. Another option, primarily recommended to women after menopause, is estrogen replacement therapy.

If exercise or medication are ineffective or not advisable for the treatment of her condition, a woman may decide to use a pessary to keep her pelvic organs in place. A pessary is a ring that a woman can place inside her vagina, around her cervix, that can stabilize her cervix and reduce any discomfort that she has been experiencing. This option is often used by women who would prefer to avoid undergoing a hysterectomy or who cannot have a hysterectomy because of health problems.

Surgical removal of the uterus, also known as a hysterectomy, is a permanent way of treating the prolapse. Women who do not want to have more children may choose this option if they find their prolapse to be significantly debilitating. As a hysterectomy is a major surgery and one that will leave a woman unable to have children, many women may be inclined to try other treatments before undergoing the procedure.