Helen felt quite pleased with herself as she headed into the ladies changing room at the gym after her water aerobics class. The 72-year-old mother of three and grandmother of eight worked out regularly and kept herself in shape.
Back home, Helen stripped off her pants and panties, and grabbed a hand mirror from the bathroom. Placing the mirror between her legs, she checked herself as she stood and then squatted. There was a definite bulge that looked like an egg. She gently touched it and noticed it was soft. It moved easily when she gently pushed it upward. Helen didn’t know enough anatomy to figure what was going on, but she knew enough to make an appointment with her ob/gyn. Having had two vaginal deliveries and one C-section years earlier, Helen had never had any problems with urine leakage but knew that something was definitely not right down below.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Are You Like Helen?
What is Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP)?
Do you ever have that “sinking sensation”? We don’t mean in the pit of your stomach. Go lower because we are talking about parts south of your stomach. If you have a sinking or heavy feeling in your pelvic region you might have pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Something may have literally “popped” out of place. Many patients with POP often feel as if something is falling out of their vagina!
The Three Gs of gravidy (pregnancy), gravity, and gerontology (aging) are usually the root causes of POP. One in five U.S. women is affected by POP, and 30% of U.S. women over 50 have this condition. Almost 50% of women who have had vaginal births will develop some form of POP in their lifetime. The uterus, bladder, intestines, and rectum are all located around the vagina, and can bulge into the vagina. Who is at risk? Moms, heavy-lifters, and smokers are susceptible. POP can be brought on by chronic coughing, chronic constipation, menopause, normal aging, previous pelvic surgery (hysterectomy), or genetics.
The Three Gs of gravidy (pregnancy), gravity, and gerontology (aging) are usually the root causes of POP. One in five U.S. women is affected by POP, and 30% of U.S. women over 50 have this condition. Almost 50% of women who have had vaginal births will develop some form of POP in their lifetime. The uterus, bladder, intestines, and rectum are all located around the vagina, and can bulge into the vagina. Who is at risk? Moms, heavy-lifters, and smokers are susceptible. POP can be brought on by chronic coughing, chronic constipation, menopause, normal aging, previous pelvic surgery (hysterectomy), or genetics.
You Know You Have POP If:
You experience any of these symptoms:
- A bulge in your vagina that ranges in size from that of small egg to that of a grapefruit
- Discomfort or pressure in your pelvis or vagina
- Difficulty having a bowel movement
- Difficulty emptying your bladder (can cause overflow incontinence) or your rectum/bowel
- Loss of urinary control with coughing, laughing or sneezing (stress urinary incontinence)
- Pain during intercourse
- Lower back pain