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Colpocleisis is a procedure that stitches together the vaginal walls to hold your pelvic organs in place.
Colpocleisis is 90% to 95% effective at treating pelvic prolapse (when organs such as the bladder or uterus move out of position and push against the vaginal wall). Furthermore, it can be performed in a short amount of time, making it an excellent option for patients who have additional health conditions or who are concerned about complications and/or anesthesia exposure.
Colpocleisis, also sometimes called a total vaginectomy, can be done in women who have had their uterus removed (a hysterectomy) or can be done at the same time as a hysterectomy. A variation of this procedure (Le Fort colpocleisis) with similar success can be performed in women who still have a uterus and don’t want/can’t have a hysterectomy.
Your provider will remove a layer of tissue from the front and back walls of your vagina, then stitch the walls together. The sutures (stitches) are permanent, and the vagina is permanently closed.
It makes the vagina too short for sexual intercourse. For that reason, patients who are considering colpocleisis must meet 2 criteria:
Before surgery, you may be asked to undergo some bladder testing called urodynamic testing. You’ll need to attend a preoperative visit to undergo some basic lab work and talk about what to expect. If you need surgical clearance, you’ll be asked to get this prior to surgery.
Colpocleisis procedure takes approximately 1 to 2 hours, and you will be under general anesthesia. Most patients can go home the day of surgery, but you doctor may consider an overnight stay, depending on your specific medical history.
Colpocleisis is minimally invasive surgery and does not require any surgical incisions into the abdominal or pelvic cavity, which reduces bleeding, pain and length of hospitalization. It is usually an outpatient surgery, meaning you can go home the day of the surgery.
Most patients report minimal pain after a colpocleisis. You can expect some activity restrictions for about 6 weeks, but many patients can return to a normal routine shortly after surgery. Activity restrictions include:
The risk of complications from a colpocleisis is typically very low. As with any procedure, there is risk of anesthesia problems, pain, bleeding, infection, blood clots or damage to nearby organs. With colpocleisis, other specific risks include:
Check your insurance plan benefits to see if your policy covers colpocleisis. If it does, our office will help you get prior authorization if your insurance policy requires it. If you have further questions, contact your insurance carrier.