About Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Hamlin hospitals offer surgery for a range of childbirth injuries and gynaecological conditions alongside obstetric fistula. One of these is pelvic organ prolapse and last year alone, we provided 652 of these life-changing surgeries to women in need.

What is Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Pelvic organ prolapse is a gynaecological problem that can have a huge impact on a woman’s quality of life. A prolapse happens when one or more of the pelvic organs, such as the womb, bowel, bladder or top of the vagina, slip down from their normal position into the vagina causing a bulge.

If prolapse is left untreated, over time it can slowly get worse. In rare cases, severe prolapse can cause obstruction of the kidneys or even inability to pass urine which can result in infection or damage to the kidneys.

Like obstetric fistula, prolapse can have a devastating impact on women’s lives. Prolapse affects women not just physically, but also psychologically and socially, and in severe cases may even contribute to relationship breakdown or divorce.

The challenge in Ethiopia

Prolapse affects women around the world, in countries in the global north and south alike, including the UK. However across Africa, there is a higher burden of women living with the condition, from younger ages, and treatment can be difficult to access.

In Ethiopia, a combination of high fertility rates, early pregnancy, childhood malnutrition, a lack of access to maternal and women’s health care services and high levels of women’s engagement in heavy physical work such as farming result in a significant need for improved treatment services.

In the UK the prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse among women is estimated at 8.4% (1), however in Ethiopia prevalence is estimated at 24% (2), among the highest in the world (3), with many women unable to access treatment. Additionally, many women may avoid seeking help due to fear of social stigma and a lack of money to access treatment.

As a result, many of the patients who arrive at Hamlin hospitals present with advanced stage prolapse and complications such as infection or ulceration.

Emama’s story

Emama, 60, pictured, recently received successful surgery at Hamlin’s Bahir Dar Hospital to treat a pelvic organ prolapse that she had suffered with for 10 years.

She told us “I felt ashamed to tell anyone what had happened, even my husband. I separated beds with him and tried to manage it by myself, but the problem has been my everyday worry for the past 10 years”.

Emama explained the free surgery she received from Hamlin has changed her life, “Thank you for curing me and giving me a happy ending to the rest of my life”.

How is Hamlin helping?

Treatment for prolapse, including surgery, can dramatically improve a woman’s health and quality of life.

In Ethiopia there has been little focus on improving public health services for prolapse and there are a limited number of gynaecologists (4) treating this condition. Additionally, gynaecologists do not have access to updated surgery training and the supplies they need.

However, all six Hamlin hospitals offer pelvic organ prolapse treatment and in 2021 alone we provided 652 prolapse treatments to women. We are committed to growing the number of women we provide treatment to, so no woman has to suffer the burden of untreated prolapse.

The women who receive this life-changing treatment are often too poor to pay. Their treatment is offered free, thanks to generous donors from the UK and around the world.

In the future, with improved maternal health services, the risk of developing pelvic organ prolapse due to obstetric risk factors can be lowered, and Hamlin’s prevention programme is also contributing to this.

Find out more about how we are working to tackle untreated prolapse in Ethiopia:

Prevention

Treatment

Read stories of women like Emama, whose lives have changed after prolapse treatment:

Patient stories