What to do when muscles in your pelvis weaken
It’s often difficult to talk about and many suffer in silence. When uterine prolapse happens, the pelvic muscle, tissue and ligaments weaken, and the uterus can drop down into the vaginal canal.
Almost half of women between the ages of 50 and 79 have some degree of pelvic organ prolapse. While symptoms are not always present, some women feel pressure or full feeling in the pelvis, or may have lower back pain due to the bulging. They may also experience leaking urine, bleeding or discharge.
The following increase your risk for a prolapsed uterus:
- Giving birth
- Menopause
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Family history of prolapse
Dr. Jenny Christl, an OB-GYN physician at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, shares that having these uncomfortable issues can seriously impact one’s quality of life for years.
“A lot of women may have been told there is nothing else to do, that it’s a normal part of childbirth or a normal part of aging,” Dr. Christl says. “I try to empower women to understand what is happening to their body and make informed choices about what they can do about it.”
There are ways to treat and prevent prolapse, including lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, following a diet rich in fiber, quitting smoking and avoiding heavy lifting.
“Pelvic floor physical therapy, such as Kegel exercises, can also be beneficial,” says Dr. Christl. “There’s also an option of support devices, called pessaries, or even minimally invasive surgery performed by pelvic floor specialists, where patients go home the same day.”
Regular pelvic exams can also help find uterus prolapse earlier to help prevent future complications.
If you think you have a prolapsed uterus, you should consult your health care provider and schedule a physical exam of your pelvis – especially when you first start to notice symptoms.
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