Cannot make up my mind...should I have POP surgery...or not?

[h8this]

I have had prolapse for about two years. I am using a pessary and have thought about surgery, but just do not want to go through all the pain/healing of a surgery and it does not really improve the prolapse without long term side effects from the surgery. I am also concerned after reading that many women have to have a second surgery to fix things, the surgery did not work, took months to heal and so on.

Did anyone have their prolapse get worse just using a pessary and not getting surgery?

What's your opinion on sex even though you have a prolapse?

Did anyone have a minor rectal prolapse get worse using just a pessary?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Catsaloud]

I have had a front wall prolapse for over 3 years with a gellhorn pessary for the past 3 years. It was fine for first 18 months, then lots of bladder infects. During the past year I have had so many problems - bleeding discomfort, pessary in and out. I am on list for surgery but it is going to take for ever. I think gellhorn made prolapse worse. Try other first. If prolapse is bad - really protrubes and bothering you get on list for surgery asap.

[h8this in reply to Catsaloud]

Thanks for the response, Catsaloud. I, too, use a Gellhorn pessary. It has not caused any major problems, but I have to go every three months to the doctor to have it removed, cleaned and checked for any vaginal sores. I would like to have the surgery, but I just cannot justify a surgery if I end up as bad , worse or need a second surgery. May I ask, do you travel? I have not gotten on a plane since the prolapse, I do not want to go through a scan and they send me for a cavity search because I use a pessary! Have you or anyone you know with a pessary had this happen?

[Catsaloud in reply to h8this]

I used to just have the checks like you. The last year bleeding and pain has been more of a problem. Last January I had to have a womb scan as the GP had found blood around neck of womb. I did not have cancer. Since then I have tried 3 different sizes of gellhorn in for 6-8 weeks then removed due to pain bleeding and unable to pee. Then feeling unable to do anything physical or pee without pushing everything in even holding it in to pee, with the pessary out. Had it reinserted 18 September and this past weekend have had bleeding again. I'm thinking I shall have to pay to go private even though we do live on a state pension, I'm 77. Pessary shouldn't show on an airport scan unless it has metal in it.

[Giraffe4 in reply to Catsaloud]

I have had a gell horn for over two years prolapse has got worse on waiting list for surgery the stress of the pessary is too much

[h8this]

I am sorry to read you are having pain and bleeding using a pessary, Catsaloud. I have been using a Gellhorn for a little over two years and have not had a major problem. I have never had pain and bleeding, do you know what is causing your problems?

[Catsaloud in reply to h8this]

I really bled last weekend, waiting for an appointment next week to have it removed again. Probably due to pessary moving and rubbing inside. When really painful if I fiddle around inside and make sure it is not on an angle I can improve things. I have tried 3 different gellhorns, same problem with all.

[Hidden]

I am 78, have had a ring pessary fitted for 10+ years with no issues at all! I didn't want to risk the awful results some people have had with surgery. However, I was on HRT for many, many hears, happily, and in 2021 I got an early breast cancer so had to stop the HRT cold turkey! I then suffered vaginal atrophy alongside quite a few other side effects of no oestrogen having to take the tablets to help prevent a recurrance of the cancer. My pessary dislodged, and was very uncomfortable. Long story short, seen by the intermediate gynaecologist clinic** and talked it through, had a new pessary fitted and was advised to use Vagirux topical oestrogen tablets twice a week. This has worked, no issues now, slight discharge, but clear, and no soreness. The ** is to highlight the Intermediate Gynae clinic- specifically for women with such issues, very helpful, and you can either ask to be referred, or contact your local clinic direct.