Nancy had always considered herself healthy and active. She raised three kids, worked part-time, and loved gardening and long walks around her neighborhood. For most of her life, she’d never had any pelvic health problems at all. But as she entered her early fifties, things began to change.
Feeling a Pressure Down There
“I started noticing a feeling of pressure down there,” Nancy shared. “At first, I thought I was just overdoing it with yard work or lifting my grandkids. But then I started feeling like something was bulging or falling out.”
Around the same time, Nancy was going through menopause. She experienced hot flashes, changes in her mood, and some vaginal dryness, but she never connected these symptoms to what was happening with her pelvic floor.
“I was embarrassed,” she admitted. “I didn’t even want to tell my friends. I thought maybe this was just part of getting older.”
Seeking Help
Finally, when the pressure sensation became more uncomfortable, and she noticed difficulty emptying her bladder completely, Nancy decided to seek help.
She scheduled an appointment at Cherokee Women’s Health, where she met with one of our double board-certified urogynecologists.
After her exam, he explained that Nancy had pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a condition where pelvic organs like the bladder, uterus, or rectum drop and push against the walls of the vagina.
Nancy was surprised. “I thought prolapse only happened to women who’d had problems for years,” she said. “But my doctor told me that menopause, aging tissues, and even gravity can play a role.”
During menopause, estrogen levels decrease, leading to weaker connective tissue and muscles that support the pelvic organs. Combine that with years of lifting, childbirth, and other stresses on the pelvic floor, and even women who never had issues before can develop prolapse.
Discovering Options
The good news for Nancy was that she had options. Her doctor reassured her that pelvic prolapse is very common and treatable. Together, they discussed several approaches, including:
- Pelvic floor physical therapy
- Lifestyle changes, like avoiding heavy lifting and managing constipation
- A pessary (a device worn in the vagina to support prolapsed organs)
- Surgery, if symptoms became more severe
Because Nancy’s prolapse was still in the early stages and not too severe, she chose pelvic floor therapy and a pessary, which helped relieve her symptoms and kept her active without discomfort. “I feel like myself again,” Nancy said. “I wish I hadn’t waited so long to talk to my doctor. No woman should feel embarrassed about this.”
We Can Help
Pelvic prolapse is nothing to be ashamed of, it’s a common part of aging for many women, especially around menopause. If you notice symptoms like vaginal bulging, pressure, or bladder changes, make an appointment with one of our double board-certified urogynecologists who are experts in helping women like Nancy find relief and get back to enjoying life.
Call us today at 770.720.7733 or simply schedule an appointment online.
