Urinary symptoms and vaginal prolapse occur in many women and can have a significant impact on your lifestyle.

Many women have urinary incontinence and it can affect all age groups. Only a small number seek help because women often think incontinence is unavoidable, especially after having children or don’t realise that effective treatments are available. Urinary incontinence can have a major impact on your quality of life affecting self-confidence, physical activity, and relationships.

Mr Aldrich can arrange a full pelvic assessment and, depending on your pelvic floor problem, can organise physiotherapy, medication or perform non-mesh surgery to help alleviate your problem.

Vaginal bulge

Vaginal prolapse happens when the muscles that support the organs in a woman’s pelvis weaken. This weakening allows the uterus, urethra, bladder, or rectum to descend into the vagina. If the pelvic floor muscles weaken enough, these organs can even protrude out of the vagina.

Urinary frequency and urgency

An overactive bladder is very common in women. It causes symptoms like severe urgency, a frequent need to urinate day and night, bed wetting and voiding issues. There are often simple treatment options in the form of lifestyle changes and medications.  Once Mr Aldrich has examined you and obtained a detailed urinary diary he will be able to discuss treatment options with you.

Stress leakage

Urine leaks out at times when your bladder is under pressure; for example, when you cough or laugh.  Mr Aldrich can arrange a full pelvic assessment and additional urinary investigations (urodynamic studies) if needed.   Symptoms may often be significantly improved with physiotherapy or vaginal pessaries, which can be used temporarily during exercise, or as a more permanent measure.  For significant unresponsive symptoms he will be able to undertake a surgical procedure such as a colposuspension.

Uterine and vaginal wall prolapse

Genitourinary prolapse results into a protrusion of the vaginal walls and/or uterus. It occurs when there is descent of one or more of the pelvic organs including the uterus, bladder, rectum, small or large bowel, or vaginal vault. It can be quite an embarrassing and bothersome situation. There are a wide range of treatment options available including conservative, with or without vaginal pessaries, or surgical non-mesh treatment. These may include an anterior and posterior repair, vaginal hysterectomy or sacrocolpoplexy and sacrospinous fixation.

Vaginal pessary

Some women may be suitable for the use of a vaginal pessary.  These come in a variety of shapes and sizes and may be used in the intermediate or long term and should be changed every 4 – 6 months.  After a pelvic assessment Mr Aldrich will be able to advise you accordingly and fit one if required.