WTF Is Prolapse?
Prolapse is a big worry for many women who've had a hysterectomy. You may have even read statistics that say you're at an increased risk for prolapse after your surgery.
This is technically true, yes… but I don't think it's been studied enough to reach clear conclusions.
Women who've never had a hysterectomy or even had a baby suffer from prolapse all the time. It even seems to be getting more common among women in their 20s as our general health continues to worsen and people become more sedentary.
So why are women who've had a hysterectomy at increased risk?
Your uterus provides some pelvic floor support. Beyond the actual organ, it's attached to ligaments that are ligated (cut) during surgery.
This one is more important: women who've had a hysterectomy have been through a lot. Maybe you had fibroids, anemia, endometriosis, years of bloating + abdominal distention, bladder dysfunction. These are ALL traumatic for your pelvic floor, and just having surgery doesn't fix it.
In other words, I believe women who've had a hysterectomy are at increased risk because of what they've been through, not necessarily the surgery itself.
All surgery does is create a better environment for progress to be made. If you want the best results after surgery, you need to exercise + learn the signs of being at risk for prolapse.
If you can understand your body's risk factors, you can address them before they become a bigger problem than they need to be.
So what are the signs of being at risk? These are what I see most often. But before you go, here's a link about what prolapse actually is.
#1 Feeling like you have a tampon in when you don't or like there's something in your rectum.
When your pelvic floor is fatigued or losing support, you can get pressure in the vagina (more common) or rectum. This sensation can be a sign that your body is not managing pressure well, and if left to continue, it can put you at risk for prolapse over time.
#2 An achy lower back that isn't going away.
Decreased pelvic floor support can cause movement compensations that result in an achy back. If you're struggling with low back pain after surgery, you should address it as soon as possible.
#3 Trouble fully emptying your bladder.
Ever go to urinate, think you're finished, then immediately have to go again? This is a risk factor for issues with prolapse in the future.
Please note: all of these sensations are common things that many women experience. Feeling these things does NOT mean you definitely have prolapse. But many women DO experience prolapse (50% will in their lifetime!)... whether they've had surgery or not. I believe that the 50% number could be much, much lower.
The sooner you listen to your body's messages, the sooner you can give it what it needs and avoid worse problems down the line.
And the fix is NOT JUST KEGELS! More content on that is coming soon.
To learn more about how I can help you, get in touch with me here.