How likely is it to happen to me?
Approximately 50% of women who have delivered vaginally will have some kind of prolapse. Prolapse may rear its head during the childbearing and rearing years, particularly when returning to exercise (like high impact, lifting weights, yoga or heavy pilates), or it may not present itself until after menopause, due to hormonal changes. It’s important to realise that prolapse ranges from mild (where the woman has minimal symptoms and may not even realise she has it) to severe. Most mild to moderate prolapses can be treated conservatively (i.e, with physio).
What can I do to treat prolapse?
Your options vary depending on several factors. It is important to be assessed by a pelvic floor physio, GP or gynaecologist to find your best treatment options. These may include:
- pelvic floor exercises
- advice on how to avoid making the prolapse worse
- small lifestyle changes, i.e, losing weight, improving constipation, general exercise, fluid intake advice, lifting techniques
Your pelvic floor physio can teach you all of the above!
Some women may need a pessary (a small plastic or silicon device, inserted into the vagina for support, like internal scaffolding, otherwise called a “bra for your vagina”) or surgery. Some pelvic floor physios can fit pessaries, or your gynae can discuss surgical options. In conjunction with these interventions, it is important to seek help from your pelvic floor physio, to help prevent the prolapse coming back.
Most importantly, it is essential seek help sooner rather than later, to stop the prolapse in its tracks, and avoid it getting worse.
As with all medical advice, I do not recommend consulting “Doctor Google” on this topic, as I’ve seen first hand the psychological effects of misguided information on a woman with a prolapse. First and foremost, seek information from your health professional. But if you’d like to read more, check out this candid and pragmatic blog by a woman who is approaching prolapse in the most helpful way.
Originally published HERE.
About Caitlin Day: “Let’s not beat around the bush. My friends call me a vagina physio. I am also known as a pelvic floor physio, a women’s health physio, men’s health physio, continence physio and pelvic health physio. Confusing huh? Basically, I work with people to help manage dysfunctions of the pelvis i.e. incontinence (leaky bowels or bladders), prolapse, sexual pain, constipation and more. I can also help women through pregnancy with exercise, and recovery after childbirth.” Read more from Caitlin at The Vagina Physio website, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
