Whole Woman Village Forum

I was hoping that I could find a little help here. I am scared to death. I suspect that I may have a prolapse of some kind. I cannot get an appt for 6 weeks. Until then, I have a few questions if anyone can help to ease my fears.
First, let me start by saying that I am 31 and still a virgin. That in itself baffles me and no one in my family has ever had this problem. Now, I might be making something out of nothing but I figured I'd ask. While sitting in the tub the other day, I decided to bend over to have a look. It has been so long since I looked I don't know if this was there before I just didn't notice it.

After my second very painful bladder infection and I figured out what was going on, I learned to empty my bladder this way:

I drop my pants all the way to the floor so I can spread my knees, lean forward so that my shoulders are at the tops my thighs or lower, and urinate in that position, with my head very close to the floor. I keep everything relaxed as I sit up, and the last little bit trickles out then. I then bend over to wipe, push everything in as I straighten up and tighten the perineal muscles as I stand. Straightening my legs while bent over seems to suck everything back into place.

Maybe I'm over looking something but I can't figure out where to buy the video. I already have the book. I'm also interested in buying "Healing for the pelvic floor" by Beate carriere which was mentioned in another post. Any idea where I could buy that online as well? Thanks!

I just got back from the doctor with a diagnosis of uterine prolapse. I went in for a routine check up and this is what was discovered. I am so confused over this. I have never been pregnant and am in my late 20s. The thing is that I had no clue I had this. I don't recall have any pain or anything that would have indicated this. My menstrual cycle has been perfectly normal. Should I get a second opinion? Could I really have this with no symptoms?

Also, I was kind of shocked when my doctor told me. He explained what it was but I was in shock. I should have asked more questions but didn't think to.

Hello everyone! I've had a moderate cystocele/rectocele for about 15 years and was never tempted to do anything about it, being a surgery-phobe. However, this year I decided to lose a lot of weight, and have BUT I also had two different bladder infections during the process. The doc-in-a-box said this might be due to a "tipped bladder" which caused me to finally start researching the cystocele problem and to realize that this last infection had caused new droppage, to a very uncomfortable level. By September, I was actively reading all I could on the subject, trying to find out how to fix this without surgery. I still hadn't found this site.

hi to everyone , this is a great site . just wanted to know if any one here had got pregnant and delivered a baby with a cystocele , i would really love to have another baby but i am so scared of what will happen regards to the prolapse , it has only been diagnosed as a mild one , just wish some one could put my mind at rest , i am 42 and have 4 children 23,19,16,and 2. all my births were great no complications totally natural deliverys , no pain relief or anything , my 2 year old was rather large wieghing in at 8pound 10 . but all went fine . can anyone help .

Went to my first appointment a physical therapy today for an evaluation, and I'm so glad I did! My therapist was awesome, and spent an hour and a half with me. She totally agrees with the posture that is emphasized here. I showed her how I used to stand, and how I stand now, and she told me that the way I used to stand probably contributed to my prolapse. She also told me I'm overcompensating when sitting - making the lumbar curve a bit too big - no wonder it was so difficult for me.

The most interesting part, though, was what I learned about my pelvic floor muscles, and wanted to pass this on - especially to those who have just developed/discovered prolapse. When mine first happened, I was very proactive, and learned all I could. I implemented this posture, and became a fiber nut. But, I also figured that strengthening the pelvic floor muscles couldn't hurt, so I started doing kegels all the time. It just felt instinctive that if things are falling down, to tighten up and try to push/hold them in. So, I was walking around tight all the time. Well, the PT told me the first thing I need to do is relax my pelvic floor muscles. She said they are strong, and that the kegels are fine, except that I'm not releasing completely afterward, and I'm keeping too much tension in them which could be harmful! Who knew!? I guess keeping them tight too much robs them of blood flow and oxygen, as well as interferes with normal urinary funciton which could lead to incontinence problems. So, I guess I really overdid it, and she said our first issue is for me to learn to relax those muscles. Not quite what I imagined! But I'm glad I went and learned this now, instead of keeping up that behavior and having more trouble down the line.

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to write to add to my story. I thought that I was suffering from prolapse after the birth of my first baby 11 months ago. I came to this site and found a lot of support, especially from Granolamom. I was feeling better about the whole thing, however I decided to go to the doctor to confirm my fears. Over the past week I have seen my GP and a specialist Ob/Gyn. The GP diagnosed my bulge as a cystocele and since I didn't have any symptoms, apart from the bulge, told me not to worry about it, but to go and see the Ob/Gyn anyway. I asked him if he thought there was any chance that it was actually something else and he said no.

I have been walking/sitting etc. in the posture for 8 months now (I found this site 9 months after my baby was born when I got prolapse) and I am getting really discouraged because I don't know what I'm doing wrong? I am still uncomfortable everyday. I have not been specifically diagnosed. My doctor just says I'll need a hysterectomy and everything has prolapsed. I have a bulge and a lot of pressure in my behind so I know it is either rectocele or rectal prolapse but it doesn't really matter cause Christine says to do the same things. I already have a very healthy diet. The only thing I eat that Christine says not to is meat but I don't see how that will change anything because I am "regular" and have no problems going the bathroom etc.

This is a personal message to Christine, but also to other women who are just now finding this Wise Woman. I realize Christine might not see this right away, and that you might not be able to respond.

I have been in chronic pain almost daily for nearly two years after having Giardia, a gut infection, on top of rectocele and cystocele. I was really sick for a few months before being diagnosed with the Giardia, and got weaker and weaker. Shortly after that, I got pregnant with my fourth baby. Note I have had no additional pelvic surgery aside from one episiotomy and tearing on the episiotomy scar with each additional baby.