Obstetrics & Gynaecology Ballarat

Pelvic Floor Surgery & Prolapse

Pelvic Floor Surgery & Prolapse

It is known that at least 11% of women living in Australia will require an operation for prolapse during their lifetime.


As women are now living longer, this percentage is likely to increase.

It is important that gynaecologists are proficient at repairing the pelvic floor, but unfortunately many of the older surgical techniques have a very high failure rate.


The use of vaginal mesh for prolapse surgery is also currently a contentious issue.


Gynaecologists at our practice are adept at performing “site-specific” pelvic floor repair. This technique utilises your natural tissues, and involves re-attachment of this tissue to recreate your normal anatomy prior to developing prolapse. Site specific surgery therefore is able to avoid the use of mesh. It is a robust repair with a significantly lower failure rate than traditional techniques, and we have now been performing this technique since 2006 with excellent long term results.

Some prolapse surgery requires a laparoscopic approach. We are also able to offer this surgery if required. Generally this would utilise a small piece of mesh placed from above to support the vaginal structures. The success rate of this procedure (laparoscopic abdominal sacral colpopexy) is 95%.


If you feel that you may have a prolapse then speak to your GP and get a referral to see one of our Doctors. 


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