What is an Anterior Prolapse?
An anterior prolapse is a bulge of the vagina caused by the
bladder dropping down. It is caused by weakness of the
support tissues between the vagina and the bladder. This can
be improved by an operation to tighten these support tissues.
Usually you will only notice this problem after menopause.
What does this involve?
An anterior prolapse repair is usually performed under general
anaesthetic and normally takes around thirty minutes.
Your gynaecologist will make a cut in the front wall of your
vagina to push your bladder and urethra back into place.
Stitches will be used to tighten the support tissues and provide
better support for your bladder and urethra. Your
gynaecologist will need to cut away a small part of your vaginal
wall so they can remove any excess tissue.
Dissolvable stitches will be used and a pack (like a tampon)
will be placed in your vagina. A catheter may be fitted to
allow you to pass urine after the operation.
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When will I recover?
You may be given fluids through a drip for the first 24 hours
after your operation and you will probably feel some pain and
discomfort which will be treated with painkillers.
The drip, the pack in your vagina and catheter (if one is
fitted) will usually be removed the next day and you will start
drinking and eating. You should expect a slight discharge or
bleeding from your vagina and you will be recommended exercises to
get you back to normal as soon as possible.
You will usually be released from hospital one to three days
after the procedure.
For the first two weeks at home you should rest and continue to
do the exercises that you were shown in hospital. You can usually
go back to work after six to twelve weeks and after three months
you should be feeling more or less back to normal.
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What risks should I know about?
An anterior prolapse repair is a routinely performed operation
but nevertheless carries some small risks.
- Incontinence where urine leaks from the bladder which may need
further treatment or surgery - risk less than 1%
- Urine infection which makes you want to pass urine more
frequently. Most infections can be quickly treated by
antibiotics.
- Damage to the bladder which may mean a further operation.
- Developing a haematoma - Normally small collections of blood
inside the abdomen which can be treated with antibiotics
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Circle care
Anterior prolapse repair is carried out at our state of the art
facilities and we have a dedicated team of surgeons and nurses who
will guide you through the process from first consultation to
after-care and will be available to answer any questions or queries
you may have.
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