tipped uterus

Body: 

Hi Christine,

I am so thankful for your informative video and passion for natural healing. An annual pap visit last week revealed I have a uterine prolapse condition. I had been feeling an unusual sensation for the past month - best described as pressure/burning on my cervix. My Nurse Practitioner was happy to refer me to a physical therapist in our area who specializes in prolapse. Of course I was on the internet the next morning as I had never heard of the "condition" and found your info which I promptly ordered. I viewed the video yesterday, and have skimmed most of your book. I have a pelvic ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow which I hope can shed some more light on my condition. I have two questions . . . why are the exercises in your video not appropriate during menstruation, and my uterus is tipped toward the rear of my body (has been as long as I can remember), will this have an effect on how I treat prolapse? Thanks! JEVE

Welcome to Whole Woman, Jeve...

Thank you very much for your appreciation of this work. In traditional systems of medicine, particularly Ayurveda, doing rigorous exercise (especially inverted poses and those that sharply decrease intraabdominal pressure, such as the stomach lift) while menstruating are thought to cause menstrual contents to flow backwards, up and out the fallopian tubes, resulting in endometriosis.

There is no information that I can find demonstrating how the structural pathology of a tipped uterus occurs. All we know is that it is extremely common (almost ubiquitous) and was the indication for hundreds of variations of uterine suspension operations performed on women in the early years of the twentieth century.

We do have very solid theories of the development of the female pelvic system that show how intraabdominal pressures actually create both the shape of the female body and the placement of the pelvic organs. It stands to reason that if the placement of the organs has changed, the structural framework has changed, and the flow of intraabdominal pressures has changed. Which came first is a chicken and egg phenomenon, but it is my belief that the structural framework changes first (we lose our natural posture) and then the organs begin to be forced out of position by the forces of intraabdominal pressure.

It should be very easy to halt, and possibly reverse, the degenerative process that has resulted in your very mild condition. If you ignore it by not changing your posture, the genital hiatus will continue to widen and you may be looking at cystocele/rectocele down the road. This work is fun, creative, and empowering.

Wishing you well,

Christine