September- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
According to Dr. Cheryl Iglesia on the American College of Obstetricians and Gyneclologist’s website,
“POP affects 1 in 4 women in their 40s and 1 in 3 in their 60s. By the time women reach their 80s, POP affects half of all women.
It’s often caused by changes during pregnancy and childbirth that weaken the pelvic floor. But women who have never given birth can have POP too. It runs in families and can be caused by many factors, including
- aging
- changes in hormones with menopause
- obesity
- diseases that weaken connective tissue, including genetic disorders
- pelvic floor injuries
- hysterectomy
Other conditions and habits that strain pelvic floor muscles also can lead to POP. These include
-Dr. Cheryl Iglesia, Director of the Section of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
- ongoing constipation and straining during bowel movements
- continual coughing caused by smoking or lung disease
- very high-impact exercise or jobs that require heavy lifting”
If you are interested in learning more about pelvic organ prolapse, we also offer an article that you can purchase and use as CEU credit towards recertification.