Prolapse after giving birth

These are examples of symptoms:

• There is a feeling of heaviness or pain in your pelvic area.  
• You may develop chafing on the part that is bulging out. 
• You may have difficulty peeing. You may also feel an urge to pee more frequently, or pee yourself. 
• You may find it difficult to poo. You may also need to pass wind more frequently or have a problem with poo leaking out.  

The symptoms you have will depend on which organ is causing the bulge in your vagina. The symptoms will lessen when you lie down. 

Contact a healthcare provider if you think you have a prolapse.  
If it is the weekend, you can wait until it is a weekday.  

Get help from an interpreter 

You can get help from an interpreter if you do not speak Swedish.  Let the clinic know you need an interpreter when you book your appointment.

If urgent care is needed 

You may need medical attention more urgently if the following applies:

• You are having a lot of trouble peeing, or cannot pee at all. 

Contact one of these clinics:  

• The maternity ward where you gave birth. 
• An urgent care centre.
• A midwifery clinic (barnmorskemottagning). 
• A gynaecology clinic.
• A healthcare centre (vårdcentral).

If they are closed or cannot attend to you, seek care from an emergency department.

Call 1177 for advice

Call 1177 for help on what to do.  
Your call will be answered by a nurse.  
The nurse can speak both Swedish and English. Help is sometimes available in other languages. 
 
Call 0046 771-11 77 00 if you are calling from a phone with a foreign number. 

Here are some tips that can ease the symptoms or reduce the risk of a prolapse:

• Train the muscles of your vagina. Such exercises are called pelvic floor exercises or Kegel exercises. 
• Avoid heavy lifting. 

Here are tips that can make it easier to poo: 

• Eat foods high in fibre and drink plenty of fluids. This will make your poo softer and easier to get out. 
• Go to the toilet immediately when you feel a need to poo. 
• Put a stool under your feet when you sit on the toilet. This will make it easier for your bowels to get the poo out. 
• It may help to hold your finger against your vagina while trying to poo. 

Here is a tip that can make it easier to pee:

• After you pee, you can stand up and lean forward. Then sit down and try to pee again. 

The doctor will perform a gynaecological examination and an ultrasound scan. The doctor may also examine your rectum by inserting a gloved finger. 

You will also be asked to provide a urine sample. 

Some people may need additional examinations or give other samples. 

You may be given a special plastic ring to put in your vagina. The ring is used to prevent the bulging. A midwife will help you to insert the ring into your vagina.  

You may undergo surgery if your symptoms are more severe. 

It is possible to get pregnant and carry a baby in your womb even if you have a prolapse. Talk to a doctor or midwife (barnmorska) if you are planning to become pregnant. 

It is not harmful to have intercourse if you have a prolapse.