Pelvic Organ Prolapse

This condition is treated in the Gynaecology clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply with referral standards and include in particular:

• History of condition - urinary or faecal incontinence or both
• Patient symptomatology - lump, something coming down, dragging
• Previous and current treatment including surgery
• Obstetric and gynaecological history - including parity
• Details of the incontinence - stress, urge, nocturia
• Vaginal examination findings - prolapse

Tests

• Pap smear
• MSU “m/c/s and cytology
• Pelvic ultrasound - if acute symptoms or associated symptoms of pain or bleeding
• Renal ultrasound - post void residual if associated voiding dysfunction
• Bladder/voiding diary*

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Gynaecology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

If prolapse is asymptomatic and patient is not bothered it does not need referral.

* Bladder diary is essential for referral

Referral to Community Continence Clinic may be appropriate.

Consider the use of vaginal oestradiol for six to eight weeks prior to referral.

Referral to Physiotherapy should be considered.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Urgent (Category 1)

🚩 Severe prolapse with cervical ulceration or significant voiding dysfunction

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Routine (Category 3)

Symptomatic/bothersome urinary/anal incontinence

• or bothersome urinary frequency, nocturia
• or bothersome voiding difficulty, bladder pain,
• recurrent UTIs; haematuria

Will be seen in turn.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital (Level 5)
Phone:  1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5214

North West

North West Regional Hospital
Phone: 6493 6300
Fax: 6464 1928

Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 1800 636 455 
Fax: 6441 5928

South

Wellington Clinics (Level 8)
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6173 0473