Tips for Talking to Your Doctor About Prolapse

Speaking to a health professional about the symptoms of your prolapse can be difficult. We are taught not to discuss bodily functions, sex, or our genitals, and it can be hard to overcome this even with a doctor. It can be particularly difficult have that first conversation where you disclose your symptoms.

 

The American Association of Urogynaecologists has created a really useful document to guide you through that first conversation: Tips for Talking with Your Doctor.

 

It has two parts.

 

On the first page, there is a questionnaire for you to fill in and take to your doctor's appointment. It covers most of the questions your doctor is likely to ask if you tell them you are experiencing symptoms that could be caused by a prolapse.

 

On the second page, there is a list of questions that you might like to ask your doctor in an initial meeting, to help you get a clear diagnosis, and a pathway towards further medical care.

 

It is really important to go into medical appointments as prepared as you can be, to make sure that your concerns are heard. If you are getting a friend or family member to act as an advocate, they might be able to help you fill in the questionnaire, or ask questions during the appointment.

 

Doctors, you may like to get your female patients to fill in the questionnaire on the first page in order to help you screen for women who are experiencing prolapse or other pelvic floor dysfunction. This is a great way to begin a conversation with your patients about a topic they might be desperate to discuss, but that they feel unable to talk about with you.

PubMed: A Place to Get Medical Information, Not a Drink

 

PubMed is a free online database of medical studies, that includes the research published in almost all of the reputable medical journals. When you see information on PubMed, you can be relatively confident that it has been carefully reviewed by medical experts.

 

You can access PubMed here: PubMed database.

 

Accessing PubMed may seem a bit intimidating, particularly if you are not used to this style of writing. There is a good introduction to how to use this database here: An Introduction to PubMed.

 

Here are some terms that you might come across while using PubMed:

 

Research - an experiment or study of a topic, that follows very specific scientific rules to make sure that the results are as accurate as possible

 

Paper - a report about a piece of research

 

Journal - a specialist magazine where scientists publish the results of their research

 

Abstract - a short summary of a research project, that states the method the researchers used and the results of their research

 

You can search PubMed using keywords like "pelvic organ prolapse". Papers are listed in chronological order, which means the most recent are first.

 

PubMed is a great research tool for women with prolapse, their supporters, and health professionals. It is the main source of information about medical research that you read about here on the Prolapse Information Network.

 

As always, I encourage you to be informed about your prolapse, and about any treatments that are suggested to you. PubMed is a great way to access the latest scientific evidence to help you manage your prolapse.

Bethesda Hospital Prolapse Information Video

You may have already had a look at the information sheets and diagrams that can be found by clicking the Information Sheets tab. But you may have found the language confusing, or the diagrams unclear. You may find this information easier to understand presented in the following video.

Bethesda Naval Hospital in America has created a great detailed video to explain prolapse to its patients.

This video can be accessed on YouTube, or viewed here:

The video covers the following points:

• What is prolapse?
• Different types of prolapse (explained using animated diagrams)
• Types of treatment that are available
• An overview of some types of surgery
• A detailed explanation of Sacrocolpopexy surgery
• A discussion of the risks and benefits of different types of treatments

These points are explained clearly in everyday language, making this video a great starting point to understanding prolapse.

Warning: This video includes footage of a Sacrocolpopexy surgery. This footage begins at 6 minutes. Please stop watching the video at this point, or do not watch the video at all, if this will be distressing to you or if it will stop you from seeking appropriate treatment.

June is Prolapse Awareness Month

Share this prolapse inforaphic from the National Association for Continence, to help raise awareness of prolapse

 

June is prolapse awareness month. It was started by the Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support (APOPS), which is an international organisation that raises awareness of prolapse.

Like all prolapse organisations, including the Prolapse Information Project, APOPS was only formed recently and still largely depends on the participation of supporters. So, while there are some official APOPS events for Prolapse Awareness Month, APOPS is encouraging women and health professionals to organise their own events.

Because the Prolapse Information Project is based online, I am encouraging readers to post the infographic above on any social media sites they use, such as Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. It provides basic information about prolapse, and explains how common it is.

Many readers would not have heard of prolapse before being diagnosed with it. Still others may have lived with their symptoms for years, thinking they were the only ones with those symptoms. While you may feel hesitant to raise awareness of prolapse because it may make people realise that you have a prolapse, you have the potential to really change the life of someone you know who is suffering in silence. Something as simple as sharing this infographic could have a huge impact on the life of one of your family or friends.

It is time for it to be as socially acceptable to say "I have a prolapse" as it is to talk about any other serious health condition. This change starts with each of us.

Talking to Your Partner About Prolapse

Talking to your partner about prolapse may be difficult, but is worth it.

 

Being diagnosed with a prolapse can feel very socially isolating. Worse, it may feel as if you can't even discuss the condition in detail with your partner. This may be because you are concerned it will cause them to see you differently, or it may be because you feel that you can't discuss symptoms such as incontinence.

 

However, if you can overcome your reservations, and share your condition with your partner, you may find that not only are they a great ally in your struggles, but that it may deepen your intimacy and strengthen your relationship.

 

Talking about prolapse with your partner may not be easy, particularly if you are not used to talking about your genitals with your partner, or about your health issues. The following websites cover communication skills. It may be useful for you, and your partner, to review these prior to discussing your prolapse in detail, in order for you to both have a positive experience of the discussion.

• "How can we communicate better?" is produced by the charity LoveIsRespect.org, which promotes healthy relationships
• "Effective Communication" is from HelpGuide.org, an online charity that provides accurate, up to date, mental health information
• "Communication" is produced by Relationships Australia, a large Australian charity that gives people skills to have positive interpersonal relationships

For an example of a supportive partner, P. R. Newton's memoir And Then My Uterus Fell Out may be useful. Newton shared her problems with her husband, who proved to be a true partner to her.

If you have a pre-existing reason not to trust your partner, do not feel obliged to share information about your health with them. Use your judgement, and consider your emotional and physical safety. Sharing private details will not 'fix' a relationship that already has problems.

Being an Advocate for a Family Member or Friend

 

An 'advocate' is someone who supports a patient and helps to ensure their wishes are respected. An advocate is usually a friend or family member, although some hospitals do have professional patient advocates.

 

There are a few benefits of having someone to advocate for you at medical appointments. Your advocate can:

• Help you plan for an appointment by writing a list of questions you would like to ask, or a script for part of the conversation you are nervous about
• Attend the appointment with you, and help you talk about aspects of your condition that you find upsetting or embarrassing
• Prevent you from being (however unintentionally) steam-rolled by a over-confident or overly-busy health professional
• Provide emotional support if you are asked upsetting questions or required to undergo procedures you find distressing

If you would like to advocate for a loved one, here is a good resource from the American Urogynecologic Society about how to do so effectively: Tips for being a Health Advocate.