It’s Time to Talk About It

If you’re living with uncomfortable pressure in your abdomen or problems with urine leakage after giving birth, you’re not alone. Women may not talk about it openly, but unfortunately millions are affected by pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a condition that can have a negative impact on normal daily activities, sexual function and exercise. Symptoms of POP are often made worse by standing, jumping and lifting. But there’s hope and help for this embarrassing – and sometime painful – condition. “When there’s consistent and increased pressure in the abdomen, women have an increased risk of developing POP,” says Michael Pippin, M.D., gynecologist with CHI Memorial Women’s Health Associates. “Common causes include constipation, obesity, respiratory problems with chronic coughing, pelvic organ tumors and occupations requiring repetitive heavy lifting. But the most common reasons women develop the condition are pregnancy, labor and childbirth.”

Symptoms of POP are wide ranging, but can include:

•pain in the lower back

•pressure or fullness in the pelvis

•painful intercourse

•feeling that something is falling out of the vagina

•vaginal bleeding or spotting

•leaking urine, or the constant need to urinate.