Enterocele

In case the prolapse is mild, you may have no symptoms. However, if the enterocele is significant, you may develop the following symptoms:

• Vaginal discomfort
• Soft bulge of tissue in the vagina
• Painful intercourse
• Pain in the lower back
• Pulling sensation in the pelvis 
• Sensation of pelvic fullness

The main reason for small bowel prolapse is increased pressure on the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues. This could happen due to a variety of conditions.

Certain factors, such as having a connective tissue disorder or being Hispanic/White puts you at greater risk of developing small bowel prolapse. This is possible as you grow older too, considering one tends to lose muscle mass and strength with age.

Pregnancy and childbirth are the most common causes of pelvic organ prolapse. This is because the fascia, muscles and ligaments that support the vagina undergo stretching all through the process of bearing a child; that is, pregnancy, labour and delivery. Obviously, not everyone who has a baby will develop enterocele.

(Read more: Normal delivery: Process, symptoms, tips)

Increased pressure on the abdomen is another cause of enterocele. This could happen as a result of being obese or overweight.

(Read more: Obesity)

Chronic constipation or straining during bowel movements or conditions like a chronic cough could also lead to small bowel prolapse.

You may be able to lower your chances of developing enterocele by doing the following things:

• Prevent constipation by eating fruits and vegetables rich in fibre. Also, make sure to have plenty of water and fluids to ease bowel movements (Read more: How to get rid of constipation: home remedies and tips)
• Reduce the pressure on your abdomen by maintaining a healthy weight. This can be exercising and eating a healthy diet. To avoid any unnecessary strain on the abdomen, do not lift heavy weights (Read more: Why lifting weights is good for your health)
• If you have conditions such as bronchitis, you probably experience chronic cough. Getting it treated significantly reduces the risk of having a prolapse. Further, smoking contributes to the cough which is why quitting smoking would be a good idea (Read more: Disadvantages of smoking)

In case you have the symptoms stated above, the doctor may conduct a pelvic exam to confirm the diagnosis. The exam may involve the doctor asking you to take a deep breath and hold it in while bearing down—making as if you are having a bowel movement. This is likely to cause the prolapsed bowel to bulge downwards. However, it is possible that the doctor may not be able to verify the condition while you’re lying down. In such cases, he/she may repeat the exam while you are standing upright.

Enterocele requires treatment only in some cases; when the symptoms turn bothersome and start interfering with your daily activities. Both surgical and non-surgical treatment options are available. These include the following:

• If the symptoms are mild, performing kegel exercises could be very beneficial. This is because they help in strengthening pelvic muscles. Doing kegel exercises also supports weakened vaginal tissues (Read more: Vaginal tightening).
• A device made of plastic, rubber or silicone may be inserted into the vagina to provide structural support to the bulging tissue. This is called a pessary. It comes in varied shapes and sizes. Your medical practitioner will guide you regarding how to use it. Finding the right one often involves trial and error.
• The doctor may recommend a surgery in which he/she moves the prolapsed bowel back into place and tightens the connective tissue of the pelvic floor. This may be done with or without robotic assistance. A small synthetic mesh may also be used to help support weakened muscles.

Enterocele is a common condition that occurs in women. It can happen for a variety of reasons, the most common one being pregnancy. There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments available to fix the prolapse and the condition isn’t known to recur.