Vaginal Vault Prolapse Specialist

What is Vaginal Vault Prolapse?

What are the symptoms of Vaginal Vault Prolapse?

What is the cause of Vaginal Vault Prolapse?

Ultimately vaginal vault prolapse forms due to the loss of pelvic floor support. Like other forms of pelvic organ prolapse, vaginal vault prolapse can have many different causes and risk factors including:

• Pregnancy, labor, or childbirth especially vaginal births or large babies.
• Aging and/or menopause
• Chronic cough
• Obesity
• Constipation and straining
• Smoking
• Repetitive heavy lifting
• Genetics

How is Vaginal Vault Prolapse diagnosed?

Dr. Stone will first discuss your symptoms with you. He will then perform a physical exam including a gynecologic exam. This exam is slightly different than a normal gynecologic exam as he will take measurements as you push to see how far the top of the vagina comes down. Based on these measurements, he will then be able to give you a stage of prolapse and show you diagrams of what your anatomy is doing. 

Are other disorders commonly found with a Vaginal Vault Prolapse?

As mentioned earlier, Vaginal Vault Prolapse is a subcategory of pelvic organ prolapse. Other forms of pelvic organ prolapse are commonly found when someone has Vaginal Vault Prolapse, including a cystocele, and a rectocele.

What are the conservative treatments for a Vaginal Vault Prolapse?

A “watch and wait” strategy could be used. This is best used if your Vaginal Vault Prolapse is mild and not causing any bothersome symptoms. 

You can also change your lifestyle and behaviors to minimize or lessen your symptoms. Some of these changes can also slow down the progression. These include:

• Avoid chronic straining by avoiding constipation and repetitive heavy lifting
• Keep your weight in a normal range and lose weight if you are overweight.
• Quit smoking

You can also perform pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegels) to help improve mild prolapse symptoms. Dr. Stone can also refer you to a specialized physical therapist that specializes in this area.

A small silicone device called a pessary could also be used to manage vaginal vault prolapse. A pessary can be inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic organs. Dr. Stone’s office carries a variety of different shapes and sizes of pessaries and a fitting can be scheduled at your convenience. 

What are the surgical treatments for Vaginal Vault Prolapse?

There are several surgical options to repair Vaginal Vault Prolapse. A vaginal vault suspension using your own tissue can be used. This option has the advantage of having fewer complications but has the disadvantage of having a higher recurrence rate. The 2nd option is a sacrocolpopexy which uses laparoscopically placed mesh to support the vagina. This option has a lower chance of prolapse recurrence but has a slightly higher complication rate.