Childbirth and Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Childbirth is the primary contributing factor for developing Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP). It’s possible for women who have not given birth to develop POP, but it’s very rare. Women who have given birth to one child are four times more likely to experience POP than women who have not given birth. Whilst those who have given birth to two children are eight times more likely to develop POP.
A study showed that women can experience POP sixteen to twenty-four years after their first delivery. Prolapse is likely related to trauma to the pelvic floor during vaginal delivery. About 85 percent of vaginal deliveries result in some type of pelvic floor trauma. An injury to the levator ani muscle increases the risk of a prolapse sevenfold. This injury occurs in about 10 to 30 percent of vaginal deliveries.
Interestingly, the increased risk of an injury to the pelvic floor is not seen with Cesarean births. Some studies show a decreased risk of experiencing POP with a Cesarean delivery, yet more research is needed to determine if this is generally true.
Tears in childbirth
Third-degree tears extend into the muscle that surrounds the anus (anal sphincter). These tears sometimes require repair with anaesthesia in an operating room rather than
the delivery room. They will take longer than a few weeks to heal.
Such complications such as faecal incontinence and painful intercourse occur as a result and this may increase in menopause. Tears such as this are often avoidable and you should have had an episiotomy. If there has been an episiotomy then it needs to have been done correctly which is straight down and right angle.
Fourth-degree vaginal tears are the most severe as they extend through the anal sphincter and into the mucous membrane that lines the rectum (rectal mucosa). These usually require repair with anaesthesia in an operating theatre and not in the delivery room. They sometimes require more specialised repair with assistance from a colorectal surgeon assisting the gynaecologist.
Healing can take longer than a few weeks and in some cases they will never heal and fistulas appear.
These are most often wholly avoidable as the patient ought to have been managed prior to getting this far with earlier intervention and careful assessment. There may also have been a miscatagorisation of the tear downgrading it from a 4th degree to 3rd degree so that it can be sewn up without Colorectal intervention.
Call us today
If you’re ready to discuss your situation or have any questions please contact Dr Victoria Handley today. Don’t suffer in silence. Call FREE on 0800 470 2009 or email vhandley@handleylaw.co.uk