Treatment of pelvic support problems may involve special exercises or insertion of a special device called a pessary. These treatments may improve support. Your doctor may suggest a high-fiber diet or medications to soften the stool and make bowel movements easier. Keeping your weight under con-trol, eating right, not smoking, and not doing activities that stress pelvic support muscles also can help. Hormones may be given to improve the quality of the tissues. Many women with pelvic support problems do not need further treatment. Some bladder control problems respond best to changes in voiding habits, diet, and medications. Others may be treat-ed by surgery. No form of treatment, even surgery, is certain to solve the problem. The chances for getting some degree of relief, though, are quite good.

A pessary may be inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic organs.

Hormone Treatment Estrogen is a hormone often prescribed to preserve or improve the quality of the pelvic tissues. It can be given in a pill, skin patch, or vaginal cream. Sometimes a combination of these methods is used. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be used after a woman has gone through menopause. It eases her symptoms of menopause and protects her from heart disease and bone problems. If a woman still has a uterus, the hormone progesterone is given as well. Hormone replacement therapy may improve the results of surgery or pelvic exercises. Women who are not taking HRT may be prescribed an estrogen cream to help relieve symptoms.