Can We Talk About Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Can We Talk About Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Hey Ladies, let’s chat about something that’s not often discussed at parties, but affects a lot of women: pelvic organ prolapse. It’s a condition where the pelvic organs (like the uterus, bladder, or rectum) slip out of place and press against or even bulge into the vagina. It can happen to women of all ages, especially those who’ve given birth.

What Is Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Pelvic organ prolapse happens when your pelvic floor muscles, ligaments, and tendons get weak, and one or more of your pelvic organs (like your bladder, uterus, or rectum) move into the vaginal wall and space. Normally, these muscles and ligaments are strong enough to keep everything in place, but sometimes they weaken over time or due to specific events like pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, aging, genetics, obesity, heavy lifting, or even chronic coughing.

But, your organs aren’t actually falling out. In the case of a rectal or bladder prolapse, your organs move into the space behind the vaginal wall. With a uterine prolapse, your uterus moves into the vagina but is still held up by ligaments. These ligaments are super strong and almost impossible to break.

Nearly 50% of adult women experience some degree of pelvic organ prolapse. This number might be even higher because some women don’t report their symptoms, and others might not even know they have it!

Types and Symptoms

There are different types of prolapse, and the symptoms can vary. Some women might not even notice they have it, while others might feel a bulge or experience discomfort. Here are a few common types:

• Cystocele (Bladder Prolapse): Bladder prolapse, also called a ‘cystocele”, is a prolapse of the anterior vaginal wall. Anterior means the vaginal wall towards the front of your body, where the bladder moves into the vaginal space. Signs and symptoms of bladder prolapse may include:
  • Pressure or fullness in the pelvis or vagina
  • A bulge of tissue you can see or feel in your vagina
  • Increased pelvic pressure when you sneeze, cough, or lift something heavy
  • Trouble urinating, feeling like you can’t empty completely, or the need to push on the inside wall of your vagina to help the flow
• Uterine Prolapse: The uterus descends into the vagina, leading to a dragging sensation or feeling like something is falling out. Uterine prolapse is most common after childbirth or after menopause. Symptoms include:
  • All the same symptoms as bladder prolapse plus,
  • Trouble moving your bowels
  • Problems with leaking urine
  • Feeling like you’re sitting on a small ball
  • Pressure or discomfort in your pelvis or lower back
  • Problems with sex, feeling like something is in the way or the tissue is loose

In the cases of post-childbirth, the grade and symptoms usually improve on their own, but if at any time your symptoms prevent you from normal daily activities, it’s important to seek help. If your symptoms are present long after childbirth or you’ve never had a baby and you have symptoms, it’s important to see your midwife, OBGYN, GYN, urogynecologist, and/or pelvic floor therapist for an evaluation.

• Rectal Prolapse: A rectal prolapse also called a ‘rectocele’ is a prolapse of the posterior vaginal wall (back side of the vagina) where the muscles and tissues move and allow the rectal tissues into the vaginal space. Symptoms can look like this: 

• • Difficult bowel movements
  • Pressure or fullness in your rectum
  • A soft bulge of tissue in your vagina
  • Concerns with your sexual health

Often, rectocele is not the only prolapse present. It would be prudent to assess whether you have other pelvic organ prolapses so you can get the best treatment plan possible. 

Living with Prolapse

Many women live with prolapse for years without realizing there’s help available. It can affect their sex life, cause fecal incontinence, and lead to other issues. If left untreated, it can get worse and even become painful or dangerous.

Breaking the Stigma

It’s important to talk about pelvic organ prolapse and let women know they’re not alone. Only 10-20% of women with prolapse experience symptoms, but it’s still crucial to raise awareness. No one should have to suffer in silence.

So, What Now? 

Let’s Begin By Releasing Our Fear and Understanding How We Can Start Healing

Pelvic organ prolapse can be pretty scary and uncomfortable. You might feel like you’re sitting on a small ball, or like something is dragging or falling out of your vagina. Maybe you’re having trouble fully emptying your bladder or bowels when you go to the bathroom. You might even be afraid to lift heavy weights, run, or do your favorite HIIT workouts because you’re worried it could make things worse.

Whether it’s a uterine prolapse, bladder prolapse, or rectal prolapse, getting this diagnosis can be really overwhelming. Pelvic organ prolapse can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.

First off, you’re not alone. Every day, our clients at NuWave share concerns about how prolapse is affecting their quality of life. The good news is that many of us can find relief from symptoms with simple lifestyle changes and pelvic floor therapy.

Stages of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

A proper pelvic organ prolapse diagnosis can be made by a qualified gynecologist, urogynecologist, or nurse midwife.

There are four stages of prolapse, which are graded on the Baden-Walker Scale. 

Stage 0: No prolapse

Stage 1: Tissue descends more than 1 cm above the level of the hymen

Stage 2: Tissue is within 1 cm of the hymen (above or below)

Stage 3: Tissue is between 1-2 cm below the hymen

Stage 4: Tissue is more than 2 cm below the hymen

In order to determine which level your prolapse is, it is best to have a vaginal exam while you are laying down and standing because gravity can make a prolapse descend further down. There may also be prolapses that should be diagnosed with ultrasound or imaging as opposed to internal examination.

Something important to note, symptoms don’t always equal severity. One woman may experience multiple symptoms of prolapse and have a very low-grade prolapse. Whereas another woman might not have any symptoms but have a higher-grade prolapse. There are many factors involved in a proper prolapse diagnosis.

How to Find Healing from Prolapse…and Start Living Your Life!

Emotional and physical healing from your prolapse is possible; however, it may not look the way you think! While the grade of your prolapse may or may not improve, you can find a great amount of daily symptom relief, guidance, and support through a pelvic floor therapist. A pelvic floor therapist familiar with pelvic organ prolapse can help you to manage your symptoms so you can return to running, lifting, dancing, and picking up your children with decreased symptoms and significantly less fear!

So what can you do to begin managing your symptoms associated with pelvic organ prolapse?

1. Manage Your Intra-Abdominal Pressure

Intra-abdominal pressure is simply the space fully contained between your diaphragm and pelvic floor. How you breathe and move can increase this pressure during your daily tasks. Things like holding your breath, straining, or pounding on the ground, can increase this abdominal pressure and place a great amount of strain on your pelvic floor. The less strain you put on your pelvic floor on a day-to-day basis when you can control it, the better the structures will maintain their strength and integrity and can support you when you can’t consciously control the pressures. 

You can manage your intra-abdominal pressure by:

• “Blow as you go” – Breathe out when doing certain movements like picking up your child, lifting heavy objects, jumping into a squat, or going up the stairs. All of these put pressure on your pelvic floor. When you breathe out, you constrict your abdomen up and away from your pelvic floor

• The knack – Similar to a Kegel but not held quite as long, the knack is a well-researched breathing technique that encourages you to squeeze your pelvic floor muscles when you know exertion is coming, such as a sneeze or when you raise your voice. Both of these put more pressure on your pelvic floor so if you can counteract that pressure with a strong pelvic floor, you can reduce unwanted symptoms.

• Manage constipation – You want easy and smooth bowel movements at all times. Frequent straining can place a lot of pressure on the pelvic floor, causing the muscles to become overworked and weakened. Making sure you have adequate water and fiber in your diet is key to having easy bowel movements! 

2. Rest and Elevate

This simple technique is especially important and quite effective to quickly help manage your symptoms. At the end of the day, or whenever you feel your symptoms are most problematic, take some time to lay down and elevate your hips and/or feet; this technique is called “wedging” and allows gravity to assist with bringing your prolapse away from the vaginal canal and gives your pelvic floor musculature a rest. Lay on your back with a wedge or multiple pillows under your pelvis, or even with your legs elevated on a chair or the wall. 

Breathe and relax! Our bodies do a lot of work against the force of gravity to keep us in order all day, and honoring rest can do wonders. 

3. Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

At NuWave, we utilize the latest technology in non-invasive pelvic floor therapy to deliver remarkable results quickly. Our FDA-approved device uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate deep and repeated muscle contractions in the pelvic floor and surrounding muscle groups. In effect, our device simulates thousands of Kegel exercises per session.  The intensity of the contractions will be adjusted according to your tolerance.  As these muscles grow stronger, you will likely be able to increase the intensity. 

A strong pelvic floor, particularly when combined with a strong core, has benefits above and beyond improving urinary incontinence. At NuWave, we recommend a “Core to Floor” approach that strengthens the entire lower abdomen, helping to enhance athletic performance, quality of life, and sexual health. During your initial visit, we will discuss options for creating a custom program that incorporates both EMS Pelvic Floor treatments with EMS Abdominal & Gluteal muscle strengthening treatments to reach your health and wellness goals.  

In rare cases of pelvic organ prolapse, where the prolapse is a more severe grade, surgical repair may be the best option. But, we encourage our clients to initially try pelvic floor therapy and lifestyle changes before undertaking a surgical procedure.

For more information about our pelvic floor therapy, please visit https://nuwavespa.com/pelvic-floor-therapy/ or call us today at 719-596-4444 to schedule a free consultation with one of our professional and caring staff members.

Sincerely, 

Sherri Lagasse and Christen Jaramillo

NuWave Spa

3425 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Ste 108

Colorado Springs, CO 80918