Claims for pelvic floor injury and pelvic organ prolapse

What is POP?

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a form of pelvic floor disorder. This distressing condition is caused when the pelvic muscles are damaged or weakened and one or more of the organs inside the pelvis – uterus, bladder, rectum - drop down towards the vagina, causing bladder and bowel problems and discomfort or numbness during sex.

The most common cause of POP is vaginal delivery and although most women will recover within six months of giving birth, for some the condition continues and worsens over time.

We are expert in pursuing negligence claims for birth injuries to a mother, including POP. Read similar birth injury cases here.

What causes POP?

If your vaginal delivery was complicated, involved severe tearing, the use of forceps or where medical practitioners failed to recognise you were carrying a heavy baby, you may have a negligence claim against those involved.

What is the treatment for POP?

Symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse include vaginal discomfort, a bulge or lump in the vagina and needing to pee more than usual. Some women describe POP as a dragging discomfort inside the vagina or like sitting on a small ball. Many women simply live with their symptoms, but pelvic organ prolapse is treatable.

Treatments for pelvic organ prolapse include pelvic floor exercises, hormone medicines and sometimes surgery. Surgery for prolapse can be performed through the vagina or abdomen. Surgeons may use a woman's own body tissue or synthetic mesh to help repair the prolapse and build pelvic floor support. Because of safety issues, mesh is no longer used to repair the prolapse through the vagina.

Where a pelvic organ prolapse is a result of childbirth, is is known as a postpartum prolapse. Depending on the organ that prolapses into the vagina, each pelvic organ prolapse has a different name:

• Cystocele – prolapse of the bladder
• Urethrocele – prolapse of the urethra
• Cystourethrocele – prolapse of both the bladder and the urethra
• Rectocele – prolapse of the rectum
• Enterocele – prolapse of the small bowel
• Uterine prolapse – prolapse of the womb
• Vaginal vault prolapse – prolapse of the vaginal walls

If negligent treatment during labour results in pelvic organ prolapse, we can help you claim compensation to help you recover. This can include for pain, suffering and loss of amenity as a result of the injury, and:

• Therapies including counselling and specialist physiotherapy.
• Medication or private health care costs, including further surgery or treatment.
• Travel expenses to and from GP or hospital appointments.
• Loss of earnings.
• Adaptations to the home, for example, an en-suite/additional bathroom.
• Help with childcare