The pelvic floor muscles are responsible for helping people with some crucial urologic health functions. When strong and tight, these muscles help a person with functions like bladder control and bowel health, and they also aid in reducing the risk of developing a condition called pelvic organ prolapse, or POP.
Many people don't quite understand what happens during POP. As a result, some significant myths have developed over the years. But, once armed with a proper understanding of the condition and yanking its untruths out into the light, most people will be able to recognize a POP myth when they see one in the future.
A bit of an anatomy lesson is required to understand best what happens during pelvic organ prolapse. In a pelvis that is functioning healthily, the pelvic organs are secured in their rightful space in the body by strong and supportive ligaments and muscles. Together, those muscles and ligaments make up the pelvic floor.
When the muscles and ligaments of the pelvic floor are weakened or become stretched, POP can occur. Depending on the type of prolapse involved, the result can be a "dropping" of a pelvic organ, such as the bladder, rectum, uterus or small intestine, out of its intended space inside the body.
It's estimated that as many as 1 in 4 women is affected by a pelvic floor disorder, including POP. And because POP can result in some symptoms that may be embarrassing or difficult to discuss, too many people suffer in silence over this condition - which helps to propagate the myths about it. It's time to shed educated light on those myths so that women can get the proper medical help they need.
Here are six common myths about pelvic organ prolapse.
These six myths are debunked below:
Fact: There are four main types of pelvic organ prolapse, including:
Fact: There is a wide variety of symptoms, mainly depending on the type of prolapse involved, that can indicate someone is experiencing POP - even if they can't see or otherwise feel a "bulge" coming out through the vaginal opening.
These symptoms can include but are not limited to:
Fact: This is a myth that health care providers often hear. Somehow people are made to believe that if they're in their golden years of life, POP is just something they'll have to live with. If they're a younger woman, perhaps just out of childbearing age, they're made to believe they might be too young to consider treatment.
Every woman experiencing POP symptoms deserves to live a life free from those symptoms regardless of age.
Fact: Chronic constipation is a significant risk factor in developing POP and the worsening of the symptoms it causes.
Fact: Because the development of POP involves weakened muscles, that doesn't mean it can't happen to athletic people. Anyone can develop the condition. And people who are long-time marathon runners or engage in heavy weightlifting can be at greater risk of developing it.
Fact: As mentioned, POP can happen to anyone. While childbirth does increase the risk of developing POP, there are other additional risk factors to consider, including:
If left untreated, pelvic organ prolapse can worsen over time and may lead to problems with the function of other organs, including the kidneys. If you or someone you know is experiencing POP symptoms or any urologic issues, it's essential to pay a visit to an experienced and knowledgeable urologist as soon as possible.
Getting to the bottom of what's going on can help many women choose proven clinical treatment options that relieve symptoms and allow them to live the whole, healthy lives they desire.
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