Prolapse

[DSM]

I think I might have a prolapse. Not 100% sure, but I have researched it a little after seeing a woman on TV with the same 'thing' I have, and I think thats what I have.

I always thought it was just a change in my vagina after childbirth, but now I am really worried. Can sex affect it? can it get worse? Can it fall out? What if I cut it shaving or something?

I am so embarrassed, please someone give me some advice.

What can you see? when you say can you cut it shaving, are you talking about your uterus? Is it hanging out?

How long is it since you gave birth? You should talk to your GP or health vistor about this. My (female) GP was great when I went to see her 2 years after having my second child. I did have a prolapse and was referred first of all for pelvic floor excercises with a specialist nurse and then for surgery. It all depends on how bad it is and whether or not you are prepared to live with it.

Having said that, you don't know whether or not that's what you've got until you get some advice. It is a little bit embarassing talking about your bits but hey, when you've had a baby it feels like the whole world has had a look already!!

Hope you get it sorted. xx

Thank you for your replies.

My DS is 5. I thought it was my bladder, not uterus? I don't know. It's not really hanging out, but I can see it, and I can kind of... push it out a bit oh my god this is so embarrassing..

I have noticed that when I have a tampon in (sorry - this is far TMI)and I go for a poo (again, ) that the tampon falls out, and I can only presume that its being pushed out by the prolapse?

OMG... I am SO

DSM, please do not be so embarrassed, there is absolutely no need to be. Doctors and nurses areused to these problems, (there are hospital departments devoted to them because they are so common), I have had various probs. in my nether regions over the years, and have always been treated with the utmost respect and consideration by medics.

Would it be easier if you wrote out your symptoms and gave that to the doctor? At the moment you're worried and uncomfortable, you owe it to yourself to get help and re-assurance.

Sounds like prolapse. I had a front wall prolapse, I had physio. It was basically pelvic floor exercises but with an instrument put inside me to show me if I was pulling in properly. I had to do two types, pulling in sharply for quick stregnth exercises and pulling in and holding for stamina exercises. Starting with a count of 5 and working up as got stronger. They worked a treat, the instrument really helped focus the work, as did the appointments as I knew I would get told off if I had not done enough. I had to do the exercises 10 times a day. Always had to pull up before sneezing, lifting and nose blowing etc. to protect new muscles. Don't do the exercises any more but could probably do with doing it once a week or something. It was deff worth while going to doc and getting reffered. With the exception of sitting through the initiall talk in a room full of old ladies (but the physio did appologise!). Don't be .

Maybe I'll just do some pelvic floor exercises myself? Will that pull it back in?

I have sex normally, it has never caused me any pain and I honestly never thought much of it, until I saw that woman on television and thought 'maybe thats not normal'.

ooh sympathies DSM,
I talked to a friend about my undercarriage last week knowing it wasn't right but not very worried and she was horrified and demanded I saw the GP..

from reading carribos answer I am going to try to do some serious exercises so that things have at least got started before I see the GP

It may pull it in, but it may not (mine was not as prolapsed down as yours by the sound of it). My front wall saged down to block the entrance and did cause painfull sex, but it never came as far down as being able to come out. The pf exercises did work wonders but you need to know you are doing them right (try puting a finger inside while doing it to check if you can really feel it being squeezed). Good luck it takes a good memory and lots of effort.

Just read all the above info. Im seeing a nurse at the mo for pelvic floor exercises. As my vaginal wall has become 'weakened' & dropped. Every thing you guys have said sounds really positive. I have a couple of ? myself. How long did it take for your 'bits' to get back to normal? I.E: Did it gradually go back up to it's original position? with p.floor exercises, and also how long did it take? & lastly, regarding the surgery route..... was it because it didn't go back up, or was it painful having sex?

Im due to go back to work in 8 weeks,, it's a lifting job and faily strenuous so any info you could give me would be great.

That is probably not uterus but vagina walls as your nurse said. You need to do pelvic floor excercises and not to lift heavy things including the kids.
After the birth my midwife told me to excercise because of the bladder but she did not mention anything about the possible prolapse and that is a serious problem. Some women have hysterectomies because the uterus falls out. Sepia is recommended to tighten up the vagina. Good luck. I still have this problem after two years. I try not to lift my kids but sometimes it is not possible. I need to resume doing my pelvic floor excercises.

Is it possible to change the job as you have lifting which is probably why you have the prolapse. If not then try to find out from fitness gurus whether some sort of excercises could help you to tone your whole body.

Thanks for the info..... I love my job and don't really want to give it up. As for fitness, I run marathons and lift weights for fun, this is why Im amazed that I ended up with one! Seeing the nurse again on Friday so hopefully she will give me some pointers. Cheers!!

If you were having a uterine prolapse you would not be able to have sex or put in a tampon, and you certainly wouldn't want to!
Sounds like it's parts of vaginal wall to me.
Also, that poo/tampon thing is totally normal and happens to women who haven't had children too. It's not a sign of prolapse.
Pelvic floor exercises will help!

I am pleased to see this thread! I have a prolapse. I think it is my uterus because I think I can see my cervix just inside the vagina! I know - it's horrific isn't it?

I had a baby 10 weeks ago and that's when it happened. Doc very dismissive but I am going back and want to be referred to a gyn. I don't think pelvic floor exercises will help me that much but I am doing them - just want not to feel this discomfort. I suppose I am still healing from the birth so there may be an improvment.

It is really getting me down and I am terrified of it getting worse.

I have forgotten to say that I got prolapse right after giving birth because of the constipation which had lasted for a month or longer. I did not know that constipation could cause a prolapse and at that time I did not know about the prolapse. I do not remember receiving any information regarding the prolapse from my midwives in oral or written form. They only mentioned about the possible urine leakage but nothing about uterus/vagina. What about you ladies? Did you receive the "warning" before/after giving birth from you midwife/GP?

Have any of you ladies tried the Kegel8 has a programme designed to help with prolapses.

Octavia I didn't get any info about prolapse before either of my pregnancies but I did know about it as my Mum also suffered after having 4 Dc.
Interestingly, her prolapse came back after the menopause which is apparently due to reduced muscle tone and blood supply to that area but taking HRT has really helped her.
When she stopped the hrt the prolapse sarted again so she's still on it after 15 years of menopause.
the Gp has told her she's got to stop taking it but she wont as also her urge incontinence comes back when she's not taking the hormones.

Does this mean that post natal prolapse can improve then?

Yes, mine seems to have gone although I still feel that heavey feeling around my period.
I had phsyio therapy which really helped. It also really improved after I stopped breastfeeding.

here is some info on treatments available.

Thanks - that gives me some hope. I am only 10 weeks post natal and still breastfeeding.

How bad was your prolapse and were you referred to a gynae?

No I was referred to a physio, the exercises work really well. To start with I couldn't feel my pelvic floor at all and when I tried squeezing the muscles nothing happened at all.
I didn't think it would work and I thought I would never get back to normal, very depressing.
But it did improve over time, I still have a lumpy bit sticking out at the entrance but it doesn't really bother me as it is hugely better than before.
I am still trying to do the exercises every day as I also have a bit of stress incontenance.
The physio said to get the best results you have to do them hundreds of times a day!!!

Thanks. I only have the lumpy bit at the entrance, nothing protuding, but feels uncomfortable - as if I have something like a tampon inserted wrongly.

Am doing tons of pelvic floor exercises now! I can feel the muscles though and have no incontinence issues. Due to see GP again soon.

That's good, I don't have any discomfort at all now. My lumpy bit doesn't stick out of the entrance it's just inside but it feels fine and not uncomfortable at all.
I think you'll see a big improvement over the next 6 months with the exercises, it's still very early days at 10 weeks.
Good luck with it :)

Thankyou for your help.

Fifot- I had exactly this. I think you are really really early days to be too worried as especially as you are feeding.

I got referral to proper physio and have had treatment include electric shock stuff to stimulate muscles.Not as bad as it sounds.

Mine improved after I stopped breastfeeding and also given time. I first went to physio 7 months post partum and now 18mths pp, Im much better but still have bladder weakness

key thing about pelvic floor exercises is that you need to do them properly or they are ineffectual. The tool thing that some describes are good but its worth getting seen so someone can check you are doing them right.

i was told that unless I was sitting alone in a room where I could concentrate and do the exercises hard enough it meant I pulled a funny face- I wasnt doing them right. Ie sitting inmeetings, at trafficlights- that was pointless (which is what I had been doing!)

Good luck- I really do feel your pain.

Keep posting for support- this nearly drove me insane when I was in your shoes. I hid it from my DH and it caused a lot of damage IMO.

Another thing-

Re the incontinence- I didnt know I had stress incontinenece for ages til I tired to do exercise or sneeze in a relax position.

The correct exercises will help but it takes some commitment. I say that because I didnt take it seriously enough at the start and now Im fighting hard to do it and improve things but jogging when I need a wee is disaster :-S