Menopausal Prolapse vs Post-Partum Prolapse

Body: 

Is it easier to manage (or even HEAL) a post-partum prolapse, as compared to menopausal/post-menopausal prolapses?

Dear sevilla555,
The post-partum and menopausal prolapse would be handled the same way. I would suggest the WW posture and exercises in both cases. Since prolapse is related to postural issues and other lifestyle causes, each case needs to be looked at individually. Age and gravity influence the menopausal female. It would also stand to reason that she has had a much longer time to develop the condition,therefore,likely contributing to stabilization or even reversal of the condition. Think of the pelvic support system like an old.favorite sweater. You might be able to change how you care for it,but it has become somewhat overstretched and cannot (probably) regain its original shape. The younger post-partum woman may have better luck with remodelling her pelvice support system, stabilizing her prolapse or even reversing it. However, if you come to believe in Christine's body of work (as I have) you come to understand that we can all probably improve our conditions with this work. I am older and post-menopausal. I have been diligently doing this work for almost 2 years and continue to see further improvement. I may never totally reverse my prolapse,yet I know I will be able to lead a healthy and much more comfortable lifestyle by using WW techniques.
Whole Woman PA

Dear WholeWomanPA,

What you said makes absolute sense. Age and gravity take their toll, not to speak of hormonal changes affecting our bodies in so many different ways.

I too am post-menopausal. Discovered my prolapse about 11/2 weeks ago. Made appt. with a gyn for a formal diagnosis. One thing I do know. I DON'T want ANY kind of surgery. Not too keen on the idea of pessaries either. I feel a kind of heaviness in vaginal area, and ''something'' is peeping out, but not bothering me to a great extent. I'm lucky that I don't have urinal incontinence, or constipation. I am rather worried about intimacy, and how it will affect sex.

sevilla555

Hi Sevilla

WholewomanPA is right. Prolapse is prolapse as far as how we manage it. Much of the success is in learning to trust our body again after it has let us down. You really don't know whether a pessary will work until you give it a go. I suggest that you go to the doctor and get fitted, or put it out of your mind and just use posture, clothing, diet, exercise, and amending how you go about tasks.

If the pessary interferes with sexual coitus for either you or your partner, then take it out beforehand. Just make sure that the pessary can be inserted and removed easily by you, with the aid of plenty of lubricant. Yes, an erect penis is a wonderful POP management tool for every woman to have in her, um, tool box. ;-)

I wonder if that is why a tool is sometimes called, um, a tool? ;-)

I had a pessary once but it caused more discomfort than it solved, so I stopped using it after a few months. That was 15 years ago at least. I now hardly notice my prolapses and wouldn't dream of having a fitting for a new one.

You can walk in circles worrying about pessaries, POPs, sex, food, etc. It isn't going to make a jot of difference until you take it by the horns and do some Whole Woman experiments, like we all have done.

Hope you can report back some success, because that is what these Forums are about.

Louise