University of Chicago Information Sheet

This series covers information sheets about POP from professional health organisations. These pages, though they don't necessarily go into a great deal of detail, are a good place to start. They help you gain a clear understanding of POP.

The University of Chicago Medical Centre has created an information sheet on prolapse which can be found here: Female Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

 

The strengths of this information sheet include:

• A methodical approach that clearly outlines the types and causes of POP
• Information with a good scientific basis
• Detail on a variety of management options, including biofeedback (which is not often featured on information sheets)

One weakness of this information sheet is that it refers to diagrams that are not included. However, it is well worth reading, particularly for women who want an introduction to what is involved in biofeedback, and how it might help them.

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.

Wound Care - How to Look After Yourself Post-Operation or After Childbirth

 

There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet about how to care for wounds. Much of it is unfortunately not based on clear evidence.

Your first source of information should of course be the health professional who performed your surgery or delivered your baby. However, it can be difficult to know where to turn if the information you have received is insufficient, contradictory, or if you received no information at all.

The following page from Mater Hospital in Queensland provides up-to-date information on how to care for a third or fourth degree tear following childbirth: Recovering from 3rd or 4th degree perineal tears.

 

Though this page naturally includes specific information on third a fourth degree tears, it also has good general guidelines on caring for genital wounds. It also warns you against some of the incorrect advice circulating on forums (such as drying yourself with a hairdryer, which can put you at risk of burns if you have reduced sensation in the area). Remember, online forums are best used as a source of support, or as the start of your research into your treatment.

 

The most important thing to remember is that your wound requires regular cleaning and monitoring. Though you may not want to look at or touch the area, particularly if you have just had a traumatic birth, it is vital that it receives proper attention. If you can not bring yourself to care for your wound, ask a trusted family member or friend to help you. If you do not feel comfortable doing this, then you need to urgently seek help from your doctor or hospital. You are at risk of infection or other complications if you do not keep your wound clean. If you cannot get help anywhere else, go to your local hospital emergency department, and explain that you need mental health support in dealing with your wound.

 

As always, I encourage you to ask for the help you need, and to continue asking until someone helps you.  

At the Prolapse Information Project, I always recommend you seek professional medical advice, even if it means that you need to seek a second opinion in order to feel confident about what you have been told. The information in this article is provided only to help you become informed about your care.

Women's Health Queensland Prolapse Information Sheet

This series covers information sheets about POP from professional health organisations. These pages, though they don't necessarily go into a great deal of detail, are a good place to start. They help you gain a clear understanding of POP.

The Women's Health website from the Queensland Government has detailed fact sheets on many common health conditions. Their fact sheet on Prolapse can be found here: Genital Prolapse Fact Sheet.

The strengths of this fact sheet include:

• The level of detail it provides
• It includes information about less common forms of prolapse, such as Enterocele and Urethrocele
• Clear diagrams of different types of prolapse, and a diagram showing how a Pessary sits when inserted properly

The main feature of this fact sheet is that it includes a good outline of what examinations your health professional should do when diagnosing your prolapse. This means that you can go to your appointment mentally prepared for the physical examination. It also empowers you to make sure your health professional is doing a thorough job, particularly if you are seeing someone like a GP without specialist training.

RANZCOG Prolapse Information Sheet

This series covers information sheets about Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) from professional health organisations. These pages, though they don't necessarily go into a great deal of detail, are a good place to start. They help you gain a clear understanding of POP.

 

 

 

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has put out a short information sheet about prolapse: Prolapse of the Pelvic Organs. 

 

Though it has some information on what is referred to as 'conservative treatment' (which may include monitoring, physiotherapy or insertion of a Pessary), its main focus is on surgery.

 

The main strength of this fact sheet is that it includes a video that explains laparoscopy (a common form of prolapse repair surgery), and shows what happens during a laparoscopy.

 

While I encourage women to be as informed as possible about their prolapse and any treatment they undertake, you know yourself best. If watching a video like this will make you more anxious about surgery, then it may be better to read about what happens during the surgery rather than watching it.

 

Warning: The end of the video shows how laparoscopy can be used to treat Ectopic pregnancy. Stop it before the end, or do not watch it at all, if this will be distressing to you.

Jean Hailes Foundation Information Sheet

This series covers information sheets about POP from professional health organisations. These pages, though they don't necessarily go into a great deal of detail, are a good place to start. They help you gain a clear understanding of POP.

The Jean Hailes Foundation is an Australian charity that promotes research and awareness of women's health issues.

Their prolapse information sheet can be found here: Prolapse and Bladder Weakness.

Their information sheet on prolapse is quite detailed, and has a really clear focus on giving women accurate information on which to base their decisions.

The key strengths of this information sheet include:

• A clear diagram showing types of prolapse
• A table showing the degrees of prolapse
• A table showing the different types of tests that you may have to undergo, and what they involve
• A table showing treatment and management options
• It was updated recently (January 2014), to bring it in line with current research

The Jean Hailes Foundation may also be able to help you with other women's health issues. They can be contacted within business hours on 1800 JEAN HAILES (532 642).

Voices for PFD Information Sheet

This series covers information sheets about POP from professional health organisations. These pages, though they don't necessarily go into a great deal of detail, are a good place to start. They help you gain a clear understanding of POP.

'Take the Floor' is a website about Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (including prolapse), produced by the American Urogynecologic Society.

Here is the page of frequently asked questions: Take the Floor.

The strengths of this information sheet include:

• The fact that it is produced by a reputable professional organisation
• It presents both the pros and cons of different treatment options
• It includes some information on conditions that other information sheets may not, and which some GPs and even Gynaecologists may not be aware of (such as underlying incontinence that can be revealed by a cystocele repair)

One weakness is the lack of diagrams, which may make it difficult for readers to get a clear understanding of what is actually going on inside a person with a prolapse.