A Sustainable Approach to Incontinence and Prolapse
Take the long view of your health because the “quick fix” often turns out not to be so quick and not to be a fix.
Incontinence and prolapse surgery is a prime example of a “quick fix” that is neither. Pelvic reconstructive surgery is major surgery with high post-op recurrence rates (ranging from 5-60%), and a questionable risk:benefit ratio. Complications run the gamut of usual suspects—infection, bleeding, damage to related structures—to mesh exposure (up to 30% if mesh is used), fistulas (tracts communicating from one organ to the other, e.g. bladder to vagina), and other issues.
The most effective and least risky approaches to incontinence and prolapse also happen to be the least invasive, least expensive.
restore the genital hiatus through pelvic floor muscle training (e.g. Kegels with a pessary or weight)
You can reduce urine leakage by 50% with as little as an 8% weight loss. You can reduce the size of the genital hiatus (thereby reducing prolapse) by 20% in just 2 weeks by doing Kegels with a pessary.
The conservative measures are worth your time and effort because you may get as good or better, longer-lasting results with these than with the “quick fix” of surgery.
What’s your experience with incontinence? prolapse?
Did you know 25% of women leak gas for at least a short time after their first delivery?
