Why is POP worse at certain times of month?

Submitted by Salt on September 16, 2011 - 6:56am
Body: 

hi All,

I wasn't sure what forum to post this in. There is a forum for POP and pregnancy and one for POP and menopause but I don't fit into either (I'm 35, never had kids).

I'm hoping someone can explain, in very simple terms (I have brain fog) why prolapse is worse at certain parts of the monthly cycle.
when I discovered my prolapse it was Day 26 of my cycle.
I got my period 2 days later and so did not check the prolapse for a week - at which time it was better.
I had an intuitive feeling that it may be worse or better at different times of the cycle so I've checked it about every other day since.

Since about Day 20, it's been getting worse. Today is Day 22 and it's noticeably worse.

I'm afraid it's going to be the same as last month by the time my period comes which was so far down that I couldn't wear a tampon. That was awful for me because, due to my flow, it meant I couldn't leave the house for the entire week of my period for fear of leaking in public (I hate pads with a passion and they don't work well enough for me. I can't use regular pads due to chemical sensitivities so I have to use either home made cloth ones or 'eco' pads made with no chlorine bleaching... which are not as absorbent).

I'm feeling so down and depressed.
I had been hoping that the posture was helping and the POP would never get as bad as it was on the discovery day.

Sorry to ramble on. Basically I'm wondering if anyone knows why it gets worse from Day 20 on?

thanks

clavicula

September 16, 2011 - 10:03am

Hi, Lily,

Well your observations are similar as ours here on the boards. POP is worst right before period, and it is getting worse as period approaches.
When I found out my POP, my periods were like hell, especially in the first year. Then I started to notice that symptoms are stronger around ovulation as well, and the second half of the period (if you have a 28 day cycle, than it is probably from CD14 to CD28 for you) is worse than the first half. So it is hormonal, of course, progesteron makes it worse (?), or who knows, what exactly?

After a year or so (note: my improvement was much slower than a lots of young women here) I only had a few days of discomfort: the 1-2 days right before my period and CD 1-2. Maybe some discomfort around ovulation as well.

Some good news for you: it will get better. If I read correctly, you just prolapsed last month? (Welcome, by the way, sorry for me to be ignorant) If so, please, stay hopeful! WW work will do wonders to your fasciae and ligaments, you'll see more or less improvement in the next few years. It is not a quick fix, but works for us here, I bet it works for everyone. You are young, no kids, I bet your fasciae will recover a lot.

Many of us here are with POP and multiple childbirths, birth trauma, perineal injuries and connective tissue problems, and we experienced tremendous relief and healing from this WW method.

My uterus is not prolapsed (significantly, lol), so I have no idea about the tampon use. Hope somebody will chime in and share her experiences about prolapsed uterus and tampon use.

Liv

Salt

September 16, 2011 - 2:59pm

hi Liv,

thanks so much for your reply. it was so easy to understand!
It's a relief to know that I'm not alone in finding that the POP changes throughout the cycle.

you are right, I just prolapsed last month.
I really appreciate the infusion of hope in your post :)
I've been feeling kind of defective because my prolapse wasn't caused by pregnancy, childbirth or menopause. I felt there must be so few women in my situation because there isn't even a specific forum about it on this site!
And yet, reading your words, I suddenly feel more *positive* because of being different! Thank you so much for that gift!

I have been wondering about the progesterone connection.
I'd like to understand that better.

I began using a low dose of progesterone cream a few months ago in hopes of helping severe migraines (that had me suicidal because I can't take meds due to chemical sensitivities, have tried alternative routes with no luck etc).

The timing of the prolapse, about 6 weeks-ish after I began the cream, seems so suspicious and I felt guilty - like I somehow caused it to happen by using that cream.
I have read that progesterone can relax or inhibit tone and contractibility of tissues... but it seemed based in relation to pregnancy - when the body can be making more than 200mg/day (or 300mg/day near the end). I was taking 25mg/day.
It would be nice to know how much/little progesterone can effect tone and if, indeed, that is what causes the fluctuations of POP throughout the cycle.

I'm in the process of experimenting to find the lowest dose of progesterone that can lessen migraines.

I got off on a bit of a tangent there :-)
Thank you again Liv for your sharing and your hopeful perspective. I'm going to write down the words that inspired me and put them on my wall :)

moodle

September 16, 2011 - 9:29pm

Hi there
A physical therapist told me that mid-cycle and at period time our estrogen levels drop, which can make POP worse at those times. She also said that regular walking increases estrogen (I don't know much about hormones but does that sound right to those of you who do?). It seems that many women find going for a walk in the WW posture helps their POP symptoms, so walking seems like a great way to exercise all round if you can! x

clavicula

September 16, 2011 - 11:55pm

Hey, Lily,

I have no idea about the progesterone cream, but hormones can affect POP for sure: in the pelvis there are hormone receptors everywhere, affecting the mucosa, ligaments, muscles, connective tissues, blood wessels and so on. That is why we feel changes as our hormone levels change.

Anyway, just wanted to share something about the migraine: one of my friend was in the same situation as you: unable to take meds, terrible migraines for weeks, unable to function. She went gluten (well, grain, actually) and sugar free (I mean 100%), and after 6 weeks or so the migraines stopped. Now she only has them right before her period (with PMS), but it is also lighter and easy to survive without meds. Cool, huh? Maybe you want to give it a try.

Liv

doubtful

September 17, 2011 - 4:42am

Hi,
Just in case this strikes a chord with anyone - my pop symptoms only bother me the week after my period ( so for me say days 8-14.) So, I'm the opposite to some of you. My only pop is a small urethrocele. During this week my cervix is incredibly high, but my little urethrocele peeks a bit. After that it tucks itself up out of the way and is no bother, getting higher and smaller as my period approaches and is fine during my period as well. Interestingly, as I near the end of my cycle at this time my cervix is a bit lower, which oddly enough seems to make my urethrocele higher. I'm 47 and probably perimenopausal as well.

I don't understand why this is, but it might apply to some other women with my type of pop and of my age.

P.S. - walking and sitting cross legged are my two 'saviours' that get me through that week. It's worth a try. Sorry I can't be any help about the tampon thing as urethroceles don't cause problems with them - but I'm sure there are other women who can help.

The best thing is, the whole woman approach makes things better overall, through the good and not so good days.

Doubtful

Salt

September 17, 2011 - 8:44am

thank you Liv,
I had no idea about hormone receptors right in the pelvis! makes sense now that I think about it though.
that is so wonderful about your friend having so much benefit from cutting out gluten and sugar!
I have been gluten free for about 5 years and the migraines have gotten much worse during that time though I don't think that's connected. I think it's more likely related to perimenopause.
I have been completely sugar free in the past (eating nothing with an ingredient ending in '-ose', no honey, agave, maple syrup, maltodextrin etc etc) and mostly sugar free for the last 3+ years but have fallen off the wagon so to speak in the last few months and am cutting it out again. historically sugar hasn't made a difference in either direction about migraines BUT I think it's a terrible drug, so bad for adrenals and so much else and I want to cut it out anyway - and maybe it will effect them this time since perimenopause is so much worse.
My main migraine triggers involve hormones, chemicals (eg perfume, fabric softener, cleaners etc) and low blood sugar or blood pressure fluctuations. I've tried various food eliminations and the main one that helps is avoiding foods high in phytoestrogens.
Since my hormones have been out of whack due to perimenopause, I seem to often have a migraine to some degree for much of the month but severe right at my period. thankfully, since going to acupuncture, the ones that happen through most of the month are much milder for the most part. it's rare for me to get a bad one more than once a week and even those tend to last 1 day instead of the previous 3-5 days.

It's very helpful to hear about your friend's, the one she still gets, being lighter and easier to manage without meds. What a huge difference that must make in her life!

Salt

September 17, 2011 - 8:53am

Hi Doubtful,
thank you for sharing this.
the more details here on the forum, the more people I am sure will be helped by it!
From what Liv shared, some find the POP worse during ovulation. I wonder if you are an early ovulator? It may not be the same at all but I've read about that happening for some women.

I appreciate you sharing the things that help you - walking and sitting cross-legged.
I love both of those things and am learning to be in the WW posture while doing them. still not feeling confident in it but I suspect I'll feel better once the DVD arrives and I learn more :)

Salt

September 17, 2011 - 8:57am

thank you Moodle
that's 2 'messages' to me in this same thread reminding me of the power of walking :)
I've been wanting to do it more but been nervous about making prolapse worse so it's very helpful to read that it actually *helps* others.

that sounds right to me about estrogen. if I recall right, it's a more drastic drop right before the period than at ovulation.

granolamom

September 17, 2011 - 8:13pm

nodding my head as I'm reading everything here
personally, I find that my migraines occur around ovulation and premenstrually, same as when my POP would get worse (nowadays my pop doesnt make any noise, not even then!).
also will not take meds for migraines but did find that trying to keep my estrogen levels low to minimize the drop helps. got that idea from the book 'foods that fight pain'
eliminated dairy and caffeine, limit the sugar, and eliminated most animal protein (still crave eggs around ovulation and fish while menstruating, so I indulge at those times).
migraines decreased by about 90% or so
also find that keeping myself well hydrated helps (I usually do not like to drink, so I force myself to have a few cups of water daily), as well as regular aerobic exercise.
progesterone cream scares me almost as much as migraine meds

re tampons, took me a while to figure out how to use them with my urethrocele, just had to get the ob tampons, they are smaller and dont use an applicator so I was able to get 'em around the bulge and into place. maybe the small tampons will work with a prolapsed uterus too.

bad_mirror

September 17, 2011 - 9:00pm

Hi Salt,

Hate the thought of you having to hide out because of a lousy tampon! I second trying OB, and think there are some unbleached versions sold at natural foods stores. What about a natural sea sponge? I discovered these for use as a pessary in my early pop days, and continued to use them as tampons. They are very absorbent, would support your uterus, and allow your vaginal walls to lie flat rather than bring held apart, like a tampon. Or, have you tried a "professional" cloth pad? I use lunapads, and they have some great ones for heavy flow needs. They were amazing for my lochia after my baby. Anyways, hope you find something that works!

Salt

September 19, 2011 - 12:55pm

thank you bad_mirror
I will look into sea sponges.

the tampons I use are chlorine-free ones from health food store that are pretty much identical to OB brand (except organic cotton, no rayon etc so not as absorbent). they have no applicator.

The part I'm having a hard time with is that last month, at period time, my cervix was just inside the opening of my vagina - no room at all to put a tampon. and if I put one in front or behind it, it didn't block/absorb the flow because the opening of the cervix was not blocked.
I have read others talk about pushing their uterus back up but I wasn't able to do that. sorry if this is wayyy too much detail but... at that time, the cervix (and the rest of the POP) were really firm. not flexible at all. and didn't move when I pushed on it.
SO I'm wondering if I'd have the same trouble with the sponge - needing to be able to push the uterus back up to be able to get the sponge in between the cervix opening and the opening of my vagina.
the firmness of it is really unnerving. it's actually one of the most unnerving parts of this POP thing for me.

I will totally look into those heavy flow lunapads! I've only ever made my own. If they worked for your lochia then I'm sure they'd work for my flow. thank you
:)

Salt

September 19, 2011 - 1:01pm

that is so wonderful granolamom about your 90% improvement of migraines!

hydration and estrogen both make a big difference for me as well.
I have tried cutting out all of the things you mention with no benefit to migraines but I still avoid most of them anyway because it's so much healthier in general for me and helps endometriosis too.

I will be interested to see if they improve as I start walking more - which I plan to do.

thank you for sharing your experience with tampons :)

I totally LOVED reading your words, "nowadays my pop doesnt make any noise, not even then!"
that is so inspiring. thank you!