Prolapse: an expert answers you

What can I do to prevent prolapse?

Unfortunately, not much… The means of preventing organ descent are limited. Women really need to watch their diet, especially during pregnancy. Giving birth to a large baby (over 4 kilos) is a recognized risk factor for prolapse. Smokers who cough all day long, but also women who suffer from chronic constipation, also create a favorable ground for prolapse by contracting their stomachs. This causes overpressure in the pelvic floor muscles. Stopping smoking and taking care of your intestines can therefore be part of the recommendations. On the other hand, postpartum perineal rehabilitation has not really shown its effectiveness in preventing organ loss. However, it must be offered systematically in order to teach patients the maneuvers necessary for good contraction of their perineal muscles.

Are some women predisposed?

In some families, women, with age, experience an alteration of the collagen present in their tissues. This substance plays a role in the elasticity of muscles, tendons, etc. They then tend to relax. Result: If your mother suffered from prolapse during menopause, you are more likely to have one.

Is prolapse immediately after childbirth or does it appear after several years?

The two ! In some women, the organs descend during childbirth. But sagging can occur later, around menopause. At this age, the tissues relax. And this is all the more noticeable in women who have had children. The risk increases with the number of deliveries. We do not have precise figures in France, but an American study had shown that about 8% of women, even young (20-25 years), suffered from a prolapse. After 50 years, more than one in two women is affected.

Will I necessarily become incontinent with a prolapse?

The association is, in fact, very frequent. Some women experience more severe symptoms of incontinence, others of organ failure. If possible, both should be treated at the same time. Because you can cure your prolapse, but continue to have leaks!

Do I have to stop doing certain activities with a prolapse?

Certain activities can make organ loss worse. This is the case with certain sports such as running, tennis, etc. Avoid “shaking” your stomach. This causes overpressure in the muscles of the pelvic floor.

Can prolapse prevent me from having sex?

A prolapse really affects the quality of life. A woman who suffers from it feels degraded. This is why some put aside, wrongly, their libido! The blockage is more often psychological than physical. But in its most serious form, when the organs exteriorize, intercourse can become impossible.

Can I still have children with prolapsu?

Organ descent does not make you sterile! You can definitely get pregnant again, if, of course, your prolapse does not prevent intercourse. Moreover, during pregnancy, the uterus rises above the small pelvis, as it grows to accommodate the baby. On the other hand, after childbirth, the organs go down again, often lower than before.

If you have surgery, you may have your uterus removed. This is why women are asked to have as many children as they want before having the operation.

I have had a prolapse operation before. Can he come back?

Yes. This is also a very important element to know. Unfortunately, surgery may fail for several reasons: technical problems, poor tissue quality, constipation, chronic bronchitis, etc. To prevent a relapse, adopt a healthy lifestyle.