To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the support available for women who have suffered a prolapse post-birth; and (ii) any issues which cause support or treatment to be delayed.

(i) Treatment and support for women who have suffered a prolapse post-birth prolapse may vary from non-surgical to surgical treatment options.

Non-Surgical Treatment options

Non-surgical treatment options include pelvic floor exercises and vaginal pessaries (plastic rings or devices to support the prolapse), right through to complex pelvic floor reconstructive surgery.

Surgical Treatment options

The following surgical inventions are available for prolapse:

Vaginal hysterectomy

Anterior & posterior repair

Enterocele repair

Perineorrhaphy

Sacrospinous ligament fixation

Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy

Laparoscopic sacrohysteropexy (womb-preserving key-hole surgery)

(ii) My officials have advised that there is a recovery period after birth, therefore surgical management wouldn't usually be considered until further down the line (and usually not until women have completed their family), although conservative treatments can be initiated much earlier to improve symptoms including continence issues.