Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Surgery
Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when one or more of the organs (uterus, bladder, or rectum) in the pelvis slip down from their normal position & bulge into the vagina. Many women will opt for prolapse surgery, which can often be a successful and simple solution.
However, for some women, the surgery may not work out as expected and with this may become persistent and uncomfortable symptoms such as pressure, bulging and incontinence. Potentially even the return of the prolapse itself.
If you are one of those women, where the surgery didn’t work out as planned, there are non-surgical options like Hypopressives that can help manage and even reverse prolapse symptoms.
How Hypopressives Can Help You Manage Prolapse and the Related Symptoms
Hypopressives offer an effective approach and set of exercises for pelvic organ prolapse. This is because it not only increases the resting tone of the pelvic floor but with repeated training, they also help the pelvic organs to sit higher and relieve the pressure and heaviness in the vagina.
We used to think that the organs of the pelvis “fell out” because of a weak pelvic floor. The answer to this seemed to be, do a great number of Kegel exercises to target those weak pelvic floor muscles. Unfortunately, the reality for many women has been that they have not worked to solve their problems. What we now know is that the pelvic organs don’t “fall out”, but they are pushed out, by increased intra-abdominal pressure and weakened connective tissue. We therefore need to look at the pressure system that exists in our core canister, known as Intra-abdominal pressure.
Standard “core” or abdominal exercises like crunches and sit ups increase the intra-abdominal pressure, which can push the pelvic organs down or out. Hypopressives on the other hand strengthen the pelvic floor and abdominal floor without the unwanted downward pressure.
With Hypopressives many women have been able to reverse their symptoms and find physical and mental relief, when surgery wasn’t successful.
If you’ve had surgery and it didn’t work, Hypopressives can offer a gentle, non-invasive way to regain control and find relief.
This approach is ideal for anyone who has had surgery that didn’t fully resolve the issue or who simply wants a safer, more sustainable alternative to invasive treatments.
What are Hypopressives and How Exactly Does it Work?
Hypopressives are the combination of a unique breathing technique, called an Apnea, and a specific pose. It’s a powerful way to strengthen the muscles that hold your pelvic organs in place.
When you do the Apnea you inhale deeply, creating space for your diaphragm to drop, and when you exhale and hold your breath, you’re activating the muscles of your core and pelvic floor.
It’s a subtle but effective way to create internal pressure that helps lift and support your pelvic organs, which is key in managing prolapse.
This technique also works on improving posture.
Many of us unknowingly collapse into poor posture, which increases the strain on our pelvic floor.
Hypopressives help realign the body and encourage a strong, stable core that’s essential for maintaining pelvic health.
Hypopressives Could Save You From Another Surgery
Hypopressives are a great first step to try before committing to another surgery.
For many women, it provides enough relief and stability that they can avoid a second round of surgery altogether. It’s conservative, requires no downtime, and has fewer risks
Surgery is an invasive option that often involves lengthy recovery, risks of complications, and even a potential for the prolapse to return.
Getting Started With Hypopressives
For the Hypopressives classes it is important that you learn the Breathing/Apnea technique properly so that you can get the most out of the classes and the time you invest in yourself. Each week Simone runs Fundamentals sessions on Zoom where she explains the technique and guides you through all the steps.
She will also give you feedback to make sure that you’re doing it correctly. For some, the technique may come more quickly than others. Some of her clients, who are tighter in the ribs and thoracic spine do tend to take a little longer. And here’s the golden rule – for impactful change, Simone recommends at least three 15 to 20-minute workouts per week. Consistency is your best friend on this journey towards wellness.
