Description

Pelvic organ prolapse affects up to 50 percent of women at some point in their lifetime. UAMS Health pelvic floor therapists Marlee Anderson and Destinee Caldwell discuss this on KATV’s ARC show.

Video Player

Transcript

Understanding Pelvic Organ Prolapse

A conversation with pelvic floor therapists Morley Anderson and Destiny Caldwell of the UAMS Health Women’s Center.

Host: It’s a common yet taboo problem. Pelvic organ prolapse affects up to 50% of women at some point in their lifetime, and it really impacts their quality of life. Here to tell us more are pelvic floor therapists from the UAMS Women’s Center, Morley Anderson and Destiny Caldwell. Thank you both for being here.

Therapist: Thank you. Thank you for having us.

Host: It sounds pretty scary when you say it out loud: a pelvic organ prolapse. What exactly is that?

Therapist: A pelvic organ prolapse is when one or more pelvic organs descend down into the vaginal canal. There are three types of prolapse. You have a cystocele prolapse, which is when the bladder bulges down into the vaginal canal. You also have a posterior prolapse, also called a rectocele, which is when the rectum descends into the vaginal canal. And then there’s a uterine prolapse, which is when the uterus bulges downward.

Host: What will that feel like exactly for a woman experiencing it?

Therapist: When you have a pelvic organ prolapse, it can feel different depending on each body and how it’s responding. Most people describe it as pressure. Some people notice a little bit of a bulge or a visual difference in their private area. Some people experience sexual, bladder, or rectal dysfunction, depending on what is involved. So it really does depend, but most commonly it’s the pressure and the descent that they notice.

Host: And is this pretty common?

Therapist: It’s actually a lot more common than people realize. As you mentioned earlier, up to 50% of women can experience a prolapse. There are even some studies that suggest it could be more than that. Women who have gone through different changes and stages of life, such as having children, going through menopause, or having had pelvic surgery before, are at increased risk of having a prolapse. And that is a very large percentage of women out there.

Host: I’m hoping there’s some hope at the end of the tunnel for people dealing with this. How can we treat prolapse?

Therapist: There are a lot of different treatment options. Some options are more conservative, and some are more surgical. Conservative treatment options include pelvic floor physical therapy, such as Kegel exercises. There are also devices called pessaries that can help support the structures in the vaginal canal, along with lifestyle changes. If you have a more progressed prolapse that needs a little more intervention, there are surgical options available. We always suggest reaching out to your urologist, urogynecologist, or gynecologist. They can all help lay out the plan for your treatment options.

Host: That is wonderful. Are there any ways to decrease your risk for prolapse as well?

Therapist: There are several things you can do. Starting from a good foundational standpoint, having a strong core and pelvic floor is always a good starting point. Some more specific things people can do include managing any constipation, managing chronic cough issues, having good lifting mechanics, and avoiding straining or pushing when you urinate. All of those things can increase downward pressure on the pelvic organs and pelvic floor, so addressing them can sometimes help decrease the risk of a prolapse. That’s also where a pelvic floor therapist can come into play, if people feel they need more personalized or individualized care to see what that looks like for them.

Host: You’ve given us so much knowledge. Do you want to say anything to someone who may be suffering in silence right now?

Therapist: Absolutely. If you are dealing with a pelvic organ prolapse, you’re definitely not alone, and there are a lot of different treatment options out there. Whether you want something more conservative, such as pelvic floor physical therapy, or you need a little more help, don’t be afraid to ask your doctors what your options are. Knowledge is half the battle. Once you figure out exactly what is going on and what your treatment options are, the next thing is just to start.

Host: Thank you both so much for taking a field trip away from the hospital and hanging out with us.