What Exactly is Uterus Prolapse and Its Related Grades? Uterine prolapse is the ailment of the uterus collapsing, tumbling down, or downward dislodgment of the uterus with relation to the vagina. It is also defined as the protruding of the uterus into the vagina. When in appropriate alignment, the uterus and the neighboring structures are suspended in the appropriate position by the uterosacral, round, broad and cardinal ligaments. The musculature of the pelvic floor forms a sling-like structure that supports the uterus, urinary bladder, vagina and rectum. Uterine prolapse is an outcome of pelvic floor relaxation or structural overstraining of the muscles of the pelvic wall and ligamentous structures. Uterine prolapse is categorized under a more general cataloguing named pelvic organ prolapse which incorporates decline of the anterior, middle and posterior structures into the vagina. Uterine prolapse is categorized using a four-part grading system:
Grade 1: Sloping of the uterus to above the hymen Grade 2: Sloping of the uterus to the hymen Grade 3: Slope of the uterus beyond the hymen Grade 4: Complete prolapse
The main symptoms of a uterine prolapse are backache, perineal pain and a sense of weightiness in the vaginal region. Pain allied with uterine prolapse can be found centrally or suprapubic, and can be defined as dragging in the groin. This pain is because of stretching of the ligamentous supports and secondarily to graze of the prolapsed tissues. If the prolapse has advanced into a grade three or third degree prolapse, the individual might feel as though they have a bump at the vaginal opening and have irritation and scrape of the exposed mucous membrane of the cervix and vagina. This is potential both during sexual intercourse and from rubbing with toileting actions. The individual might report that the