WThumb that I experienced a prolapse of the pelvic organs after giving birth to my daughter in 2019, I had no idea – and no longer, apparently, my doctors – how much my life was about to change. Each new “surprise” – not to be able to use the stamps, to an almost constant cycle of urinary tract infections – felt much worse for my lack of mental and practical preparation.
This should not be the case: about half of all women will have a certain degree of prolapse of pelvic organs during their life. There are four types: vaginal, uterine, bladder and rectal, which all involve one or more pelvic organs descending into the vagina. Often, this creates an internal bulge, but when it is more progressed, it can also be visible outside. The prolapse being so varied – and, above all, sub -studied – makes a great proliferation of potential symptoms which, in my opinion, are generally underestimated in the health care literature. Living with an organ descending in your vagina is frequently described as “uncomfortable”, as comparable to the wearing of a pair of too small jeans. The NHS website describes what can be really debilitating against urinary incontinence (sui) as “Problems (with) Papi“. The little information available on prolapse seems designed to remind you that what you are experiencing doesn’t matter! But for many of us, it is far from being the case.
My own prolapse was caused by childbirthBut it can also be caused by an injury, menopauseage, or simply (still known by medical research). You may have none of the symptoms and no idea that you even have it; Conversely, you may have all the symptoms and yet difficulty obtaining a diagnosis. Six years later and, although I have a general diagnosis of “prolapse of the pelvic organs”, I don’t know which prolapse I have, to what extent or if I have several prolapse or not. Although I am far from being satisfied with this shocking lack of information on my state, I – out of necessity – focuses on what I TO DO Know, to spend the day. Here is everything I learned, and everything I would have liked to have known about life with the prolapse of the pelvic organs, before doing it.
Penetrating sex will be different
When I was diagnosed for the first time with prolapse, I did not think of the effect that it could have on my sex life. But, in fact, it is probably the field of my life that has been most negatively affected. Yes, I have a stress urinary incontinence (sui) – but when is the worse time To lose control of your bladder? Yes, I have pain in my vagina – but when is the worse time Feel pain in your vagina? At 29, and after some nightmare attempts of sex, I thought I could never have penetrating sex again; The pain was more than I could bear.
Over time, however, I realized that the positioning was essential. Having sex on my side so that the penis does not penetrate so deep has made a huge difference. Of course, this is not good if you descend a deeper penetration – for this, a friend advises to place a cushion under your buttocks, lift your pool and make your cervix back down. We both agree that Lube is a huge help to encourage the penis to “find the path of the slightest resistance”. And as for the sui? I pee in advance, even if I don’t think I really need it. For other people who may be embarrassed to lose control of their bladder, I would recommend having sex in the bath or to lubricate the nine – both of the means simple to disguise larger or smaller leaks.
… and your rules too
Although prolapse should not affect your rules, your rules can Assign your prolapse. I certainly notice an increased heaviness in my vagina and, in the days preceding the arrival of my period, I feel particularly reluctant to physically overexade myself. I now feel cramps more intensely in my vagina, perhaps because of the descent of my uterus, and I have to apply heat pads on my vulva rather than on the abdomen (on clothes, to avoid the risk of burns). I found using almost impossible buffers and moon glasses; My prolapse simply hugs them as soon as I insert them. Returning to the pads after a decade not to use them was discouraging for me personally, and I have not yet found a period of pants from the period with which I can climb. All this led me to turn to the coil – which, at least, helped to reduce my physical symptoms. It is not for everyone, however, and even if I have not felt pain with the insertion myself, I would recommend anyone who is concerned about this to ask his health care provider to use a local anesthetic gel or a spray (pain relief is not systematically offered for DIU fittings).
Your relationship to exercise will change
These days, it is generally only in the contribution of my rules, or after a particularly physical effort, that my prolapse affects my mobility – but this was not the case for the first year or two. The worst days, the simple fact of standing looked like a monumental effort – I should tighten my pelvic soil muscles as hard as possible to fight against the feeling that my cervix was going to get out of me. The physiotherapists told me that I should not recover my baby – an almost ridiculously impossible advice for a new parent – which let me question each hug. Friends who like to run have taken the news of their particularly difficult prolaptions. One was unable to run 10 meters without losing full control of his bladder; The incontinence pads were a gamechanger, once she was able to exceed stigma. Another option is a pessary – a small ring inserted into the vagina to help support the organs above.
You may have more gynecological infections
A risk that accompanies pessary use, however, is the increased risk of vaginal infections. This is due to the potentially potentially introduction of bacteria into the vagina, but prolapse in general is likely to increase infections. Urinary infections are the most common, because the descending organs can prevent the complete emptying of the bladder, or create small leaks and the pooling of urine, which is a reproductive ground for bacteria. After penetrating sex, residual sperm can be trapped in the pockets created by prolapse, also creating fertile soil for infection. It may seem that the response to these problems is more rigorous hygiene standards, but the introduction of harder products and more rough cleaning habits can in fact have a negative effect on the vaginal ecosystem. I have not yet found a better solution than to buy regularly over-the-counter vaginal auto-test kits and to ask for targeted medicines from my general practitioner, if necessary. It takes time and is expensive, and I hope that general practitioners will plan to offer free self-test kits for regular gynecological infections in the future.
This can affect your future fertility options
A certain number of health professionals informed me that if I do not want my prolapse empire, I should no longer get pregnant. Avoiding vaginal births by having a cesarean would not help, in my case, because the pressure exerted on my pelvic region by carrying another baby might be sufficient to considerably worsen my symptoms and my future prospects. Surgical repair will only be offered to me once I decided not to get pregnant anymore.
It is important to note that all people with prolapse are not informed that they should not become pregnant: it is judged on a case -by -case basis, and if you are ready for your prolapse potentially then, of course, you can always go ahead, no matter what you are advised. But having to calculate this risk can be difficult for many. There is more and more evidence suggesting that using the pessary during pregnancy for people with advanced prolapse can lead to better post-birth results, but more research on this interventions and others are sorely necessary to provide as many reproductive choices as possible.
Mental toll may be impossible – but it is not
When I was diagnosed for the first time with prolapse, I didn’t want to leave my bed. Partly, it was because every step that I gathered had the impression of doing things physically, medically, worse. But above all, it is because of the mental toll that having a prolapse had taken me. Doctors were barely understood my condition and wrapped it in euphemisms. I had little idea what the rest of my life would look like, and I suddenly – after having a baby – I felt entirely alienated from my body and the child that I was advised not to pick up. This is of course a fertile land for postnatal depression.
Another demographic group affected by the prolapse of pelvic organs is those who suffer from menopause – people who, like those who have just given birth, are subject to vast hormonal fluctuations and are therefore more vulnerable to poor mental health. Understanding the psychological impact that gynecological conditions may have must start with the understanding of a key element of medical misogyny: that women’s health conditions are almost universally sub-studied, subcontracted and sub-diagnosed. Women find themselves experienced More pain, and with less probability of diagnosis and treatment.
It may seem frustrating, as the system is stacked against us. But it is important to recognize the number of people in the same boat; To campaign for better treatment options and work together to destroy conditions that are not sufficiently spoken. Sharing my story of prolapse with others, then having so many people to share their experiences with me, helped me to be shame that I had first felt at the betrayal of my body. Talking about how to make a better sex, or how to manage my rules, gave me a toolbox with which to go ahead. We still need a significant institutional reform but, for the moment, I am grateful not to be too ashamed of wearing an incontinence stamp if I need it. And you shouldn’t be.