Explore our comprehensive guide on pelvic prolapse, covering its types, symptoms, and effective treatment options. Learn preventive measures and proactive health tips for pelvic floor wellness at Spiced Pear Health.
We will cover breast lumps another day, but today we want to discuss lumps and bulges in a different area: prolapse.
Most of us shift a little uncomfortably at the word. But it’s something we need to talk about, and it’s not always something we take a proactive approach to.
What is a prolapse? It’s the word we use when some part of our pelvic anatomy shifts downwards, due to a loss of support from pelvic ligaments, the vaginal walls and the pelvic floor muscles.
This can be a rectocele (the lower part of the bowel bulges forwards), a cystocele (the bladder pushes back or down) or descent of the womb and cervix. The level of descent can be mild (still within the vaginal cavity), or more severe (at, or beyond the entrance of the vagina.
Women notice prolapses most when they stand, strain, carry heavy things or go to the bathroom. Sometimes fully emptying the bladder or bowel can become difficult as a result.
They also impact on sex directly, but also through stretching of the nerves, which can impact sensation. The process that led to the prolapse also means weaker orgasm and poorer blood supply to our important pleasure parts. All in all, it’s not ideal 🙃
So, what helps? Well – prevention is best, so if you’re scanning through thinking, “That’s not me!” then now is the perfect time for a good pelvic floor regime. Many of the women we see started with issues after pregnancy. See a pelvic physio early, and keep at it. Weights and apps and pelvic floor exercisers all have their place too. Learn to do a pelvic floor contraction well (start at your bottom, and feel like you’re zipping up to your navel). Do a mix of short and long squeezes. Eat plenty of fibre and don’t put up with chronic constipation: always straining is BAD.
Vaginal oestrogens help a lot, too, at menopause. For continence, they can be a game changer. Start early, use plenty. They’re safe and effective.
And consider seeing a pelvic physiotherapist. It can be worth paying privately – this is such an important part of you! And then there are things like pessaries – which have come a long way from the hard plastic rings – and surgery, for some.
How do you remember your pelvic floor exercises?
Throughout this website, we use the term women when describing people who experience hormonal symptoms. However, we acknowledge not only those who identify as women require access to menopause and hormone health information. For example, some trans men, non-binary people, intersex people or people with variations in sex characteristics may also experience menopausal symptoms and PMS/PME or PMDD, and we warmly welcome everyone who needs this support in our clinic.
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