Reluctant to go for check-ups, disaster looms

Many people are reluctant to seek medical examination, fearing surgery, so they silently endure illness, leading to missed effective treatment time

After a period of endurance, when the pain became increasingly severe, Ms. N.N.L (69 years old, from Vĩnh Long) went to the Pelvic Floor Clinic - University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City with severe symptoms: a sensation of tightness in the lower abdomen and pelvic area, feeling of a lump or something descending in the vagina and rectum. Upon examination, doctors determined she had a genital prolapse.

Suffering from endurance

At the hospital, Ms. L.'s condition progressed to a very complicated stage with uterine and bladder prolapse grade 4, and complete rectal prolapse grade 4. Multidisciplinary doctors performed a combined laparoscopic surgery to support the bladder and the cervical stump via the vaginal route into the pelvic ligaments, together with resection of the rectal segment through the perineal floor. After 5 days, she was discharged, and her health has recovered well.

Another case is Ms. N.T.T.G (45 years old, in Ho Chi Minh City) who suffers from urinary incontinence. After her second birth, Ms. G. frequently experiences uncontrolled urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, laughing, running, jumping, or carrying heavy loads. This condition causes inconvenience, affects her mental state, daily activities, and health, but she is shy and thus has delayed seeking examination.

Ms. V.T.A (69 years old, from Đồng Nai) was diagnosed with an ovarian tumor a year ago but delayed treatment. Recently, the pain and pressure have increased, especially in the lower abdomen. At the hospital, doctors noted a distended abdomen, palpated a roughly 20 cm mass in the lower pelvic region, firm, minimally mobile, with slight tenderness on pressure. MRI results identified this as a multilocular cystic mass in the lower pelvis, suspected malignant ovarian mucinous tumor. Ms. A. had to undergo surgery to remove the entire uterus, two accessory parts, a large omental flap, and the appendix.

Filling the psychological gap

Dr. CKII Đoàn Vương Kiệt, Manager and Director of the Functional Urology Department – University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, states that genital prolapse, also called pelvic organ prolapse (POP), is the descent of the uterus, bladder, rectum, anterior wall, and posterior wall of the vagina from their normal anatomical position into the vagina. The condition occurs due to weakening of the muscular and ligamentous support structures of the pelvic floor. Symptoms include lower abdominal pain, pelvic pain, detection of a prolapsed mass in the vagina or rectum, urinary disorders (incontinence or difficulty urinating, incomplete emptying), bowel disorders (fecal incontinence, constipation) and sexual symptoms: reduced desire, difficulty with intercourse, painful intercourse, inability to achieve orgasm… affecting physical health, psychological well‑being as well as the quality of life of the patient.

Throughout a woman's life, due to physical activity, labor, pregnancy and childbirth, and aging, the pelvic floor becomes weakened (the ligaments and pelvic muscles become lax and stretched) and cannot keep the pelvic organs in their normal position, leading to pelvic organ prolapse, also called genital prolapse. If a woman also has pelvic injuries or obstetric complications, the risk of this condition can increase.

Mild genital prolapse may cause no symptoms or affect the patient at all. Moderate or severe prolapse can cause uncomfortable symptoms when urinating, digestive disorders, and affect sexual activity. Complete genital prolapse is the most serious level, causing pain and discomfort that greatly affect daily activities and work and can lead to severe complications such as urinary retention causing kidney failure, ulcerated prolapse infection, intestinal obstruction due to chronic constipation…

Dr. CKI Đặng Thị Phương Thảo, Obstetrics Department – University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, warns about gaps in comprehensive health care for women around menopause. At this stage, conditions such as vaginal and urinary tract infections together with the formation of tumors such as uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts become more common. Issues of genital prolapse, bladder and rectal prolapse also frequently appear accompanied by symptoms due to hormone deficiency.

"The psychological reluctance to seek medical care and viewing these as "taboo diseases" cause patients not to share with relatives and not to go for medical examinations. If the disease is mild, patients only need to do pelvic physical therapy; doctors can prescribe medication to treat urinary or bowel disorders, helping improve quality of life. When the disease is severe or has complications, surgery is required. Currently, genital prolapse surgery yields very good results. After 3 - 5 days, patients can be discharged, move gently and after about 4 weeks, patients can resume completely normal daily activities" - Dr. Kiệt informs.

Experts recommend families encourage and arrange for women and mothers to undergo regular health check-ups, including gynecological disease screening. Early examination and treatment are advised so that genital prolapse and gynecological diseases do not affect life.
According to studies, about 25% of women suffer from genital prolapse. If not treated promptly and properly, this condition can progress and cause dangerous complications.

Article Link: https://nld.com.vn/ngai-di-kham-hoa-ap-den-19625111021202001.htm