No more secrets – let’s talk about pelvic support problems

Even though many women develop pelvic organ prolapse, or POP, some don’t talk about it. The intimate nature of pelvic support problems, and the symptoms they cause, can be embarrassing. Our San Antonio OBGYNs want you to know that POP is a common problem, especially as women age. So, let’s talk about it!

It’s one of those “woman things”

Add POP to the list of “woman things” we may have to deal with. Women are at a much higher risk than men for developing POP. Yep, one of the biggest risk factors for pelvic support problems is being female.

The hormone estrogen plays a big role in keeping the pelvic floor – the ligaments and muscles that support your pelvic organs – healthy and strong. As you get older, your estrogen levels decrease, weakening the pelvic floor. Vaginal childbirth and pregnancy also increase your risk of developing POP.

Leaking urine and constipation are just two of the unpleasant symptoms of POP

Let’s be honest. Nobody wants to deal with pelvic organ prolapse symptoms. They can cause everything from urinary incontinence to loss of bowel and urine control, pelvic pain, and pressure. The good news is that we have solutions that will help improve your life.

You can also try some of the following tips at home to reduce your risk of developing pelvic support problems and also alleviate symptoms.

• A healthy diet and exercise help if you are overweight or obese.
• Extra fluids and high fiber foods help prevent constipation.
• Prevent chronic coughing by quitting smoking.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects.
• Talk to our San Antonio OBGYNs about how to do Kegels properly.

Our physicians may recommend pelvic floor physical therapy to help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, or we may advise you to use a pessary. Pessaries are small silicone devices you insert into your vagina to help keep your pelvic organs in place.

Ignoring pelvic support problems can affect your sex life

Pelvic organ prolapse can cause pain or pressure during sex. Since nobody enjoys pain, you may start avoiding sex, making your partner feel rejected or causing relationship problems.

Many women are hesitant to talk about POP. For example, they may not want to tell their partners that their vaginas bulge outside of their bodies or that they have urine or bowel changes. We understand how hard it is to discuss pelvic problems, but we encourage you to have those vital conversations.

Our San Antonio OBGYNs urge you to talk to us about your intimate problems

Our caring physicians want you to feel comfortable enough to chat with us about any issues, including the ones you might think are too weird or embarrassing to discuss. We are here to help diagnose and treat your pelvic support problems. Contact us for an appointment.