To ask how many of you have a prolapse?

[Bella1994]

Just want to ask how many of you have a prolapse? And your age ? I have all 3 and I’m only 26 and one birth of a little girl who is now 2 years old. Really feel alone. Been told it’s very common yet not one of my friends have even heard of it. My vagina is very short and I can’t wear tampons any more. It’s really knocked my confidence it’s definitely not the same down there

I do. 34 now and 2 babies down.

what has massively helped is learning how to do pf excercises properly and seeing a pelvic floor physio. I went when things didn’t feel right after having no 2.

I felt really gutted at first but there is a huge amount you can do to help manage your symptoms and feel more normal. You are 26 - life isn’t over!

Me,a cystocele. I'm 72, and a friend recently said something about the "joys" of getting old, didn't believe me when I said you could have one at 20. Symptoms started last November, severe pain, after a couple of days,pu ING every 15 minutes, but wanted to pee the whole time. During the past 6 months, I was told by Dr then, I had a "slight" prolapse. I've given urine samples,rang surgery,111,(on hold for 5 hours) been given nurse practitioner phone appointments, twice both times I've had to wait 5 weeks. In agony at the moment. Looked up online self help, says they cause discomfort, dragging sensation. This is 8/10 pain. No idea what to do next. Oddly enough,my youngest DD DP had one following a hysterectomy (quite common apparently) she had no pain. Had repair last year, now got to have hernia repair.

DP mum had one!!

I do!

33, two kids.

My PF is perfect, no issues but I have a cystocele and rear passage small prolapse.

I've got a pessary for the vaginal one. Game changing.

I'm on a waiting list to see a consultant, not considered urgent. Have been hoping to speak to someone with a pessary,see if they work.

Sorry to hear you are suffering. If you’re on Instagram follow a lady call Helen - Why Mums Don’t Jump, her podcast is amazing and provides lots of information that may help!

I’ve tried a Petrarch didn’t work just felt awful :( just wanted to hear I wasn’t alone I guess and if anyone else in their 20s is suffering !

I was 29 when it happened, now in 30s.
It makes me really angry that there is so little research on it, when I asked the midwife she basically said 'its bad luck'. Come on, there must be more to it than that, and treatment options are so limited as well.

I have had some success with exercises, quite afraid to have a second child in case it gets worse.

I have a rectocele. Had it since the birth of my 2nd child in 2005. Had 2 more children after. Dr said repair rarely works.

I do, well partial prolapse. I don't notice it most of the time but when I'm on my period I can feel a dragging sensation and it's horrible. 37 and two kids, I don't want anymore luckily as there is no way I could risk it.

I want a second child but I couldn’t cope if this got any worse :( it’s so sad what are your symptoms have they offered any surgery? I’m waiting to be seen again

Also sorry if it’s TMI you don’t have to answer but can you feel your cervix ? Since my prolapse my cervix is at the second knuckle in and I never used to be able to feel it before ! It really creeps me out and I’m constantly parranoid of it getting lower

I have a rectocele too. I hate the bloody thing! Have had it since the birth of my second child in 2013, I'm 40 now and did have a 3rd pregnancy/birth. The consultant advised me to try and manage it as long as I could before having surgery for reasons mentioned by PP. I saw a women's physio who was brilliant and gave me lots of tips for using the toilet - perineal support was an absolute wonder-tip. I also found the diagnostic testing really useful because I could see exactly what was going wrong (defecating proctogram).

I have a rectocele too since I had DD2 18 years ago. Its not that severe so I can manage it. Midwife thought I might be vulnerable to some form of prolapse with No 2 as I tore quite a bit with No1 and it didn't knit that well.

Me. Aged 50+. Caused by leg weights at physiotherapy. They pushed too quickly on me going up the weights rather than accepting i was struggling.

I have a uterus prolapse from my first birth (I was aged 26) I've just had my second baby and chose an elective c-section. Happy to report that the second pregnancy did not make my prolapse any worse.
It's a rollercoaster journey and there are good days and bad days!

I'm 38 and had front and back vaginal wall prolapse after my first who is now nearly 8. I saw a pelvic floor physio for a year after. I was scared and was told I shouldn't have a second but I did and had an elective c section for child 2. It's worse around my period. I left a desk job and did dog walking for 3 years. The exercise really helped it. I'm back to a desk job and it's got worse but I live with it, don't use tampons and still have a healthy active sex life. It's annoying more then anything. My physio told me to put off surgery for as long as possible as it doesn't work very well

I have a rectocele. 31 years old, 2 kids. With physio and a cube pessery things have improved and are more manageable. At certain times of the month things feel different. Some days I’m not that aware of it but other days I really am. It’s crap and it it feels scary and lonely but know you’re not alone and it really is more common than you think. We don’t talk about these things enough. Since finding out I have a prolapse I’ve started speaking to family and friends and have been surprised by how many are going through it too. And I’d never have thought it. Things can be done to help, keep pushing to be listened to and keep going to try and find something that works for you to manage. There are options. As a PP said, Why Mums Don’t Jump - her book is amazing and has really helped me. Podcasts too. There are stories of other women and different types of prolapses. Really worth listening to if you can x

I’d love another baby but hear so many stories about it getting worse! My pregnancy wasn’t complicated at all or birth so just seems bad luck! How bad was your uterine prolapse before ? Can you manage it ? It’s the low cervix and rectocele which bothers me most!

That’s strange I love exercise but feel like when I’ve been on my feet a lot I’m more uncomfortable

Thankyou for your kind words also I will take a look at a podcast x

I do- I had surgery 18 years ago for rectocoele which failed after a year and cystocoele which failed after 10 years. They also amputated half my cervix as it was very elongated and low. Quite old fashioned repairs but I’m so glad I didn’t have the dreaded mesh.
I saw a surgeon 4 years ago who said only way to fix the rectocoele was to go abdominally and put mesh in. Instead I’ve opted for a nigh fibre diet and adopting more of a squat position using a stool when having a bowel movement and it’s all fine.
I have no urinary incontinence but the cystocoele has created a kink in my urethra meaning the last drop of urine doesn’t empty out when I pee and can dribble out 5 mins after. I’ve discovered a way to wipe myself which empties it so it’s all good.
My sex life is not affected so I’m not having any more surgery. I don’t want to risk things. I’m on my 50s and on HRT

Years ago they used to do a thing called colposuspension for a low cervix which my older neighbour had done and she said it was revolutionary for her. I’m not sure why it was never offered for me. My surgeon years ago also said I should never have a hysterectomy because by uterus is plugging the defect in my pelvic floor. I’m sure it will all fail at some point.
It’s such a complicated part of the body for surgery.

OP you can self refer for women’s health physio which is extremely helpful.

Are you hypermobile OP? My non-meducal theory is that if you are, this might explain it. The only other person I know who experienced these issues and bladder issues after birth like I did is hypermobile like me. It makes sense, given that our soft tissues are dodgy.

do you think it’s a collagen thing that some of us don’t ping back into shape after childbirth?
How many of us with prolapse also have really bad stretch marks?

I do, unfortunately. I'm 35 with 2 children. I had C-Section and never had labour, so maybe I am hypermobile?? I don't fit all the criteria for it though.

Uterine and rectocele, and I hate it. Symptoms are horrible and it makes me feel really bad about sex.

I want the surgery where you can keep your womb, but been on a waiting list for 8 months to even see the gynae and not tried a pessary yet (not keen on the idea as I'm prone to UTIs and just don't like the thought of it)