Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Navigating Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) can impact daily life, creating challenges in routine tasks. But a POP diagnosis isn't a permanent setback. Your body can learn, heal, and adapt. With guidance and effort, limitations can decrease, and possibilities can grow.
Understanding Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) involves a shift in the optimal position of pelvic organs, such as the uterus, rectum, and bladder. Symptoms include pressure or heaviness in the perineum, altered urine flow, a feeling of falling out, constipation, and discomfort during intercourse. Physical signs may manifest as a bulge or protrusion at the vaginal entrance.
Up to 50% of women will experience some degree of pelvic organ prolapse over their lifetime.
Causes of Pelvic Organ Prolapse
The weakening or stretching of muscles, fascia, and ligaments supporting pelvic organs lead to pelvic organ prolapse.
Factors that may contribute to pelvic organ prolapse include:
Pregnancy: Prolonged pressure from the baby during pregnancy, as well as potential trauma from vaginal deliveries.
Vaginal Delivery: Ligament stretching and organ shifting during childbirth, and possible issues related to healing from cesarean scars or perineal scars.
Long-Term Downward Pressure: Conditions like obesity, chronic straining, and coughing, along with persistent pelvic floor muscle tension.
Menopause: Hormonal changes during menopause and reduced muscle activity.
Aging: Hormonal changes during menopause, decreased muscle activity, pelvic surgery, congenital factors, activities that increase pressure in the abdomen, improper breathing with weight lifting, chronic constipation, and chronic obstructive airway disease.
Symptoms and the Power of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Pelvic organ prolapse is almost never painful but women often describe it as heaviness or fullness in the pelvis. Some say it feels like a tampon is in the vagina when it actually isn't. In more severe cases you can see or feel something pushing out of the vagina when you bear down to have a bowel movement or when you cough. It can cause urinary urgency or incontinence, or difficulty with defecation. Activities with gravity, like standing or walking, worsen symptoms, while positions without gravity, such as lying down, offer relief. POP is subjective; some with mild prolapse may have severe symptoms, and vice versa.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is the primary treatment for POP., offering strategies to strengthen pelvic floor muscles effectively, manage intraabdominal pressure and prevent it from progressing or getting worse.
A Pelvic PT can guide you in learning how to PROPERLY strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which goes beyond just "kegels." Strengthening the pelvic floor is a crucial aspect of treating pelvic organ prolapse, and the guidance provided by a Pelvic PT can make a significant difference.
Strengthening the Pelvic Floor
Supports the organs up and in, acting like a "sports bra" for the organs.
Increases comfort and alleviates symptoms.
Prevents prolapse from worsening.