Pelvic Organ Prolapse: The Silent Epidemic

by Sherrie J. Palm

The subliminal message women receive from early childhood on is we should not look at, talk about, or acknowledge our vagina. It's no wonder we have such a difficult time understanding vaginal health, or interpreting symptoms such as incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain, or vaginal tissue bulge. By definition, stigma is a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance or quality. Feeling labeled or defined by a health condition can be devastating.

Women typically have never heard of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) prior to the fateful examination which indicates they are experiencing the condition. Discovery upon diagnosis is unfortunately the end-result of months, sometimes years, with no clue what is causing the painful, awkward, or embarrassing symptoms occurring. Physically incapacitating to varying degrees based on type(s) and grade of severity, POP makes a mess out of nearly every aspect of women's lives. Pelvic organ prolapse stigma often generates feelings of shame, distress, helplessness, anxiety, blame, hopelessness, isolation, embarrassment, and fear. Frequently these stigma symptoms are coupled with shock.

In the course of scouting for answers to address my own needs, I became determined to find a path to enable women to become informed about pelvic organ prolapse prior to diagnosis-not only women seeking treatment, but in essence, all women. The conversation should begin during the first pelvic exam a woman experiences. Women need to be informed and educated about the significance of the PC muscle for pelvic floor health, childbirth health, sexual health, and continence health. This would enable young women to recognize commonly occurring female pelvic health concerns such as POP or incontinence.

It seems absurd that there is so little conversation about pelvic organ prolapse at this stage of women's health evolution, particularly considering POP has been on medical record for nearly 4000 years. My sincere hope is that this book will generate open dialogue to enable women to recognize symptoms indicating POP, as well as stimulate conversations in primary care and gynecology, currently seldom screening for POP during routine pelvic exams. Knowledge of pelvic organ prolapse is a pivotal piece of women's health awareness, and POP awareness will unquestionably generate the next significant shift in women's health.

Genres: Health

204 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2012

About the author

Sherrie Palm is the Founder/CEO/Executive Director of Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support (APOPS), a pelvic organ prolapse (POP) Key Opinion Leader, author of award winning book Pelvic Organ Prolapse: The Silent Epidemic, a speaker on multiple aspects of pelvic organ prolapse quality of life impact, and an international women's pelvic health advocate. Sherrie’s points of focus are generating global POP awareness, developing guidance and support structures for women navigating POP, and bridge building within POP healthcare, research, academia, industry, and policy sectors toward the evolution of POP directives. Additional information about APOPS, pelvic organ prolapse, or Ms. Palm’s book or speaking presentations is available on the website below.

http://www.pelvicorganprolapsesupport...

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t going to put this on my Goodreads shelf because it felt so private, but then I realized that the reason I didn’t know I was having symptoms for so long is because of the lack of awareness and dialogue about this condition that affects so many women! So here we go. The book is fairly repetitive and I am not sure if everything is completely up to date, but it does have helpful information. (Tips for management, care providers to connect with, questions to ask prior to surgery, etc.) It also helped validate my feelings since prolapse is something that doesn’t really get talked about but can have a big impact on your life. This book is a good resource if you are wondering if you have prolapse or if you have been newly diagnosed.

[JonnyHeard]

It’s good that there is now information about such a delicate problem. Thanks to this book, you understand that you are not alone, people just don’t talk about it. There was an incentive to deal with prolapse. Thus, having discovered the symptoms, I began to do special exercises according to the specialist’s system. Of course, a doctor's consultation is necessary, but if there is no need, it is better to avoid surgery.

[Tina Milledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I'd found this book and the Facebook group before my surgery, but for women wondering if they have prolapse or facing the decision of what to do, it's a good resource.

[Missyjohnson1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

this probably should be a long article instead of a book. a good bit of repetition but good information none the less. I too wonder why this issue is such a secret. with jobs that keep us on our feet for eight hours a day, giving birth, running routinely, genetic aspects and doing the other things that come with daily life it is no wonder that gravity takes its toll. If we could talk about this more freely and have conversations with our daughters, then they may be able to prevent or delay the onset of this dibilitating condition. Thank you Ms Palm for addressing the issue. I am just disappointed that especially female OB/GYN's do not make this part of the education during exams. It should not get to the point that we as patients have to tell them that we have an issue. Gynecologist are not likely to ever notice the condition with the patient lying down on their back in stirrups.

[Anne Kaufhold · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of an article than a book, as the other reviewer said, information mostly accurate though simplistic.

[NormaCenva]

Very excited for this title - hope to read it!