Kegels?

I don't believe there are any exercises that will "tighten" the vagina. Kegels are not good for prolapse, so if you are planning to do them anyway, please observe posture and don't do them on your back. - Surviving

I just wanted to back up surviving! Kegels are TERRIBLE for prolapse! When I first found out that I had prolapse I had a stage 2-3 uterine prolapse n all I heard was "kegel kegel kegel" so I did them religiously n not only did they NOT help they severely negatively impacted my prolapse. My uterus actually fell outside my vag. My bladder when full fell outside my body n my rectum when full peeks out the opening of my vag! I know the kegels helped to cause this!! Thank God I found this site! The advice I received from everyone here including Christine n Surviving n doing the WW posture has made a DRASTIC improvement in my condition in just over 3 wks! I would quit worrying about tightness bc we tend to make more of a big deal over it than a man ever would! I would listen to the amazing advice from the many brilliant n caring women here n keep posture first n stop the harmful kegels!

I just wanted to show some support also! I know after each one of my 3 babies I thought I felt more loose n was so worried about it affecting pleasure for my husband! But after a while my body returned to almost the same "tightness" as before! My husband didn't even notice! I really wouldn't worry if I were you! Plus u just gave birth to a beautiful new human being it takes time for your body to recover!! Whenever you do decide to share your body with someone they r going to be so into the act of being w you that " tightness" will be the last thing on their mind! There's so much wonderful info on this site I hope you find everything you need!

This is just for you yourself to feel happier, not for any partner’s benefit. There was one exercise which I found did seem to help the feeling of having an unduly flabby vulva. Lay on your stomach and with bent knees raise your legs over your buttocks as far as you can and as parallel to your body i.e. as close as you can. (Mine tend to be quite a distance above, up in the air actually. It will depend how flexible you are and just as long as you feel a little stretched tension, you are doing it right.) Hold under this tension for five or so minutes or for as long as is comfortable to do so. You should feel the muscles in your vulva are particularly stretched, as too are the ones in your stomach, your thighs, buttocks, feet and lower back.

I noticed on your comment that you have a situation similar to mine. I wondered if you limited activity until you could get your organs back inside or did you go forward and let time pass doing the exercises etc until they went back inside?

When I was doing the kegels n my prolapse kept getting worse i was terrified!! I had no idea what was going on why it was happening n what to do about it!! I stopped all activities!! My husband put me on bed rest bc that was the only thing I knew helped at the time!! THEN I found WHOLE WOMAN!!! I am so much happier today!! I can't wait to tell women about what I learned!! Christine really knows what she's doing!! She's so compassionate about helping other women! I thank God I found this place! I started by just reading posts bc I'm extremely shy n fear rejection! Then I finally posted my questions! I am so glad I did! The wealth of knowledge I received has changed my life!! I found out that not only do I not need to be on bed rest but if I constantly work the WW posture I can do most of my old activities w some slight tweaking for things like lifting!! I learned from Surviving how to post my feelings n ask questions n how to find the correct posture! I learned from Louise n Fab how to tuck my organs back inside n moisturize them n how quitting caffeine n sugar can help my trips to the bathroom!! My life has been completely transformed bc of Christine n these WONDERFUL women here!! I was scared n alone n misinformed n now I'm a part of something so special!! I am learning n being educated every day n I love it!! I hope the ladies whose names I mentioned don't mind it's just they played such an important role in a major turn around in my life!! I know there will be ups n downs but I can face them now bc I'm not alone I have ALL the amazing women here to lend their experience!! Thank u! I am still new n still learning!

I just noticed this isn't the first time u posted that question n I don't think I answered u very clearly!! At first my bladder n uterus n rectum were fighting to fall out. If my bladder n rectum were empty my uterus would come almost all the way out! When I first learned how to do the posture I also learned how to sort of bend over n "tuck" my uterus back in. I started out slowly. I would push my uterus in n forward n go immediately into WW posture! I could feel each deep breath sort of trapping it inside me!! The more I work on posture the farther I walk for exercise! If I feel my uterus start to slip I focus on my breathing n bend forward quickly then go immediately into WW posture n it keeps my uterus inside!! I have also made adjustments to my diet that are helping w my rectocele! I still have organs peeking at me but nothing falls out n that is HUGE for me!! I'm still new so I haven't perfected things yet! I am seriously short on cash but my birthdays coming up n I'm asking for Saving the Whole Woman n First Aid for Prolapse n I can't wait to see what else I learn!! I hope I answered ur question if not just ask me again!! ;)

WMLB, it is very clear from this post that, despite being a relative "newbie" here, you have really grasped the concepts! Your perspectives are so helpful to other women starting out on this path. Thank you so much. When you get your birthday presents (which I hope is soon!) you will love them. Meanwhile keep up the good work and keep sharing here. - Surviving

I can't tell you enough just how much your support means to me!! I'm always afraid I'm gonna say the wrong thing or misinform someone so I make sure when I post they know I'm still learning too!! My birthday is in July n I can't wait!! Thank you again for your encouragement!!

Hi All, I have have a level 2 urethrocele and vaginal laxity has been something ive been struggling with. It feels like there is zero structure inside my vagina anymore, like its just a big swollen/soft mess in there. I am 31 years old, single, never had kids. I am having huge anxiety about possibly starting a sexual relationship with someone new because of this issue. Does everyone with prolapse have a problem with vaginal laxity? And do people here with partners report any difference sexually pre-post prolapse? Thank you to everyone for listening, this website is truly invaluable.

I've noticed the only thing that's different about sex w my husband is my attitude n emotions toward it!! I have been thru the fluctuations of 3 babies n my newly diagnosed cystocele rectocele n 3-4 uterine prolapse with my wonderful supportive husband. My husband actually says that he doesn't notice much of a difference as far as how sex feels to him except now he says it feels like I " surround" him a little snuger. The only difference that has impacted our sex life since my pop is my fear of him hurting me! To help me w this he said he will start slowly n use lots of lubrication! He says he LOVES it bc we go so slow together it's totally erotic as we stare into each others eyes! If anything my POP has actually brought the romance back into our sex life!! I think we as women place too much importance on "tightness"! I don't think it really matters that much to men! When u find the right man he'll be so happy that ur sharing ur self w him he'll be completely focused on you!! I know there r other discussions on it here if u search it in the search tab u should be able to find some!! I hope u find all the support you need!!

thank you! I know there are so many worse issues that come along with prolapse but the sexual aspect is just really getting to me. I know that if i am having sex with someone, hopefully he cares about me enough not to want to hurt my feelings so he wouldnt tell me if things felt unusual inside.

Even without a partner, i just feel so grotesque and hopeless sexually. its great to be able to come on here for support and information (although my new doctor has been great, i dont think she will sit down with me for hours to discuss my sexual insecurites, lol).

I struggle with this too, Shortcake. I just got out of an emotionally abusive relationship and am currently single. I have been working through all sorts of insecurities. I used to fear that my blindness would make me asexual, then I feared my prolapses made me ugly and disgusting. I learned that I had these fears because I believed, falsely, that my self esteem depended on what others are and are not doing and actually viewed myself as unclean and unattractive. I didn't need a man to mistreat me and tell me how ugly I was, I was already abusing myself! I am still working through the shock of the several prolapse diagnoses I've had and the incredible diminishment of self they've retriggered. Wantmylifeback, your post brought tears to my eyes. I will tell myself that I am worth good, that I deserve love from myself and from others, and that when the right someone comes along he will love me just as I am. It will be easy for him to love and not reject me, because I will love rather than reject myself. If you cannot find it within, then you will never find it without. Shortcake, I'd just go ahead and dive into that new relationship if you feel it is right in all the important ways, and remember that when a person shows you who they really are, believe them. Work on loving and accepting yourself, and you will know quickly whether he deserves you! Trust, respect, and acceptance are cornerstones to any relationship, so if he fails to do any of the three, he wasn't good enough for you anyway. I hope he turns out to be a wonderful, empathic person who loves you just the way you are, because that is what real love consists of.

thank you very much for the advice and for sharing!