If you’re over the age of fifty, you’re at an increased risk of developing pelvic organ prolapse. In fact, half of the women around your age currently suffer from some form of it. This condition affects older women the most because menopause and childbirth are two common risk factors.
The doctors at The Ob-Gyn Center want to help you live your best life. Doctors Anita Gondy, Saovaros V. Michaels, and Henry Luh can suggest ways to reduce your risk of pelvic organ prolapse.
The term prolapse means to drop or descend. So a pelvic organ prolapse means that the organs held in place by your pelvic floor muscles are dropping out of place.
These organs include your vagina, uterus, bladder, small bowel, or rectum. They have prolapsed when they are inside or outside the vaginal canal or anus.
These are the muscles that support all of your organs at the bottom of your pelvis. They stretch like a muscle trampoline from your tailbone to your pubic bone.
There are a few things you can do today to prevent your chances of developing pelvic organ prolapse later in life. By being proactive now, you can fight uterine prolapse and urinary stress incontinence before they ever start.
Your pelvic floor muscles do a lot of heavy lifting to hold your major organs in place. When you become overweight, you increase the pressure and strain on these muscles.
This means that women who are obese are more likely to develop pelvic floor prolapse. But you can reduce your risk by simply maintaining a healthy weight.
Many Americans deal with constipation at some point in life. This isn't concerning unless it becomes a chronic issue. Then you need to deal with the lack of movement head-on, or it will cause many more problems with your health.
That constant straining puts unnecessary pressure on your pelvic muscles. This will only increase your risk of uterine prolapse.
When you lift something heavy, you use your entire body to leverage that heavy object, including your pelvic muscles.
The more heavy lifting you do, the more strain you put on your pelvic muscles. This increases your risk of prolapse.
Do not confuse this with a healthy workout routine. You do need to work your muscles to maintain that healthy weight we just spoke about.
While heavy lifting is a no go, working your muscles is important. Kegels are a great way to exercise your pelvic muscles and prevent urinary incontinence.
To do them correctly, you need to work the correct muscles. Think about the muscles you use to stop yourself from urinating or defecating. These are the muscles you want to work.
To do Kegels, you’ll tighten these muscles for a count of three, then relax for a count of three. Pay attention to not tighten the muscles in your abs, buttocks, or thighs.
If you’re experiencing a lower backache, painful intercourse, or feeling pressure or fullness in the pelvic region, you may have already suffered a pelvic organ prolapse. The team at The Ob-Gyn Center can assess your condition and determine if you indeed have pelvic organ prolapse.
If Dr. Gondy, Dr. Michaels, or Dr. Luh determine that you have prolapse, they will work with you to create a treatment plan that will restore your organs to their correct position. Schedule an appointment today!
