June was Prolapse Awareness Month, and as the month finished up I decided to check out the information resources available to women in my local area around this pelvic health issue. The Royal Women’s Hospital is a major hospital in Melbourne and they have a lot of information sheets available on their webpage.

While there is nothing inherently wrong about their information on prolapse (except for the fact they don’t list occupational therapy as a resource), I don’t really like it.

Firstly it talks about pregnancy and childbirth being the primary cause of prolapse. Women often discover that they have prolapse after giving birth, but I don’t like how this plays into the negative cultural narrative that childbirth irreparably breaks out bodies. Prolapse is an issue of support. With our sedentary lifestyle and poor postures, maybe pregnancy just challenges our already compromised bodies in a way that causes symptoms. The information sheet also doesn’t give a lot of hope, with most suggested interventions appearing to focus on management which will lead to the ‘inevitable’ surgery. It also doesn’t talk about the significant emotional impact that receiving a diagnosis of prolapse can create. It’s pretty hard to focus on your children and your partner when you feel like your insides are falling out.

So what would I like an information sheet on prolapse to say? It could tell women that the way they use their body matters, and that there are simple things they can do to improve their pelvic health such as change their foot position and posture or learn to manage intra-abdominal pressures. It would tell them that it is normal to feel deflated, angry or frustrated when you receive a diagnosis of prolapse. It would then tell them about the support they can access for their mental and emotional wellbeing at this time especially as they juggle caring for children and other relationships. It would speak to the importance of exploring how emotional wellbeing and the things going on around them directly impacts their pelvic health. It would also tell them that their body isn’t broken. It is just speaking loudly to let them know there is imbalance that needs to be resolved. My information sheet would reassure them that they can find a way forward to self-love and pelvic vitality.

If you want to check out the information provided by the Royal Women’s Hospital about prolapse you can find the link here:  https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/vulva-vagina/vaginal-prolapse

If you are struggling with your own pelvic health and would like to find someone to work with as you find your path to pelvic, menstrual or emotional vitality – know that support is available. I would love to be a partner in your journey.