Many women complain of sensations of pelvic gravity or heaviness in the lower abdomen. Explanations on these potentially worrying sensations, especially if they occur suddenly.
What is pelvic gravity?
We speak of pelvic gravity when a woman experiences feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen. This discomfort is generally located in the lower abdomen and can appear at any age.
Others troubles can also accompany this feeling of heaviness. Pain, swollen and hard stomach like a pregnant woman, occasional or even real urinary leakage urinary incontinence, or even constipation.
Finally, these heaviness sometimes reveal a pathology underlying disease linked to the urinary or genital system. An additional examination is then necessary.
Causes of heaviness in the lower abdomen
The pelvic cavity contains the pelvic organs (bladder, vagina, uterus and rectum). Imagine it like a balloon with an open bottom. Two forces then apply to its content: the gravity and the abdominal pressures.
To combat these forces and keep the organs in place, two mechanisms act in concert:
- THE pelvic floor (perineum) supports the organs when it is sufficiently toned.
- A set of fascia and of ligaments suspend and stabilize these organs.
Weakening of the pelvic floor and organ descent
However, these mechanisms can beweaken after complicated childbirths (mechanical effect) or after a certain age (hormonal drop). The pelvic floor then no longer properly supports the genitals, leaving to come down.
Organ descent can thus affect one or more genitals :
- Cystocele (bladder).
- Hysterocele (uterus).
- Rectocele (rectum).
- Elytrocele (posterior part of the vaginal wall).
And we distinguish 4 stages of severity (according to Baden-Walker), depending on the importance of prolapse.
Risk factors for prolapse
Other factors also favor the occurrence of a prolapse:
- obesity (weight loss is then preferable);
- constipation (effort to push to the toilet);
- impact sports (running, trampoline) or high abdominal pressure (gymnastics, crossfit);
- chronic cough;
- lack of pelvic-perineal rehabilitation after childbirth;
- working in a standing position (teachers, salespeople, etc.);
- carrying loads (handling, caring, etc.);
- hereditary factors.
Other causes of pelvic heaviness
Besides prolapse, other factors can also cause heaviness in the lower abdomen.
Pregnancy
As it grows, the uterus exerts growing pressure on the abdominal organs (bladder, intestine, etc.). Hence the feelings of heaviness and discomfort.
Menstrual cycle
Always present at the same time of the cycle, gravity is quite common before or during menstruation. If the discomfort is unilateral and occurs in the middle of the cycle, it is often theovulation.
But if the pain is persistent or significant, it can reveal a more serious pathology (ovarian cyst, urinary infection, etc.).
Menopause
Then, menopause causes a huge hormonal upheaval which can cause urinary problems and pelvic heaviness.
After a meal
Lower abdomen pain but no period? A digestion problem or transit may be responsible.
How to relieve pelvic heaviness?
When gravity is the cause of pain pelvic or become chronicles, talk to your gynecologist. For example, if you often have lower abdominal pain outside of pregnancy or during sexual intercourse.
The diagnosis will then include a examination, A gynecological examination and a possible pelvic ultrasound.
Effective treatment against heaviness in the lower abdomen
According to the importance of prolapse and the inconvenience caused, three treatments are possible.
Perineal rehabilitation
First, the pelvi-perineal rehabilitation improves the awareness and tone of the perineum. It also allows you to adapt abdominal pressure and posture.
Note also that after childbirth, social security covers 8 perineal rehabilitation sessions with a specialist. Physiotherapist or midwife: choose your option.
Although rehabilitation does not resolve advanced prolapse, it does. stabilizes and makes it more bearable. It especially relieves symptoms and feelings of heaviness.
Finally, you can also train at home and strengthen your perineum active way with a Emy perineal probe. Biofeedback makes pelvic strengthening exercises more fun and effective. Via its mobile application, Emy motivates you and helps you make lasting progress.
Wearing a pessary
Then you can also wear a pessary. This small vaginal device serves as support to the descending organs. It thus relieves pelvic heaviness transitional way.
There installation of a pessary being complicated at first, ask for a specific consultation to learn how to do it.
Surgery
Finally, if perineal rehabilitation is insufficient, the last resort is surgery.
L'operation then consists of resuspend the organs in the pelvic cavity.
