Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support - APOPS

08/15/2025

TGIF

08/14/2025

O***y is a term that rarely makes it into my rhetoric, but it should be a part of POP conversation. Ovaries produce estrogen, that priceless hormone that feeds muscle tissue strength and integrity. Weak muscles in the pelvic cavity supporting organs are very often the result of estrogen depletion. Menopause is the 2nd leading cause of .

If you are heading into a hysterectomy, be sure to brain pick your surgeon about saving at least one of your ovaries. This article takes a deep dive into the value of the glorious o***y.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/06/29/o***y-menopause-womens-health-longevity-impact/83815618007/

***ydo

See why the o***y − often reduced to its reproductive role − menopause, age and estrogen affect a woman’s health throughout her body and lifetime.

08/13/2025

Great lather, rinse, repeat summation in this article.

One item I disagree with is the asymptomatic comment. Women have plenty of symptoms, but chronic constipation, vaginal pressure, re**al pressure, and tampons pushing out are rarely talked about from a deeper dive prospective. It is critical we eradicate the stigma of women's below-the-waist health and educate women and provide POP curriculum in all fields of practice that provide pelvic exams. We have a long way to go to level the playing field in the pelvic organ prolapse arena.

https://conexiant.com/obgyn/articles/postpartum-pelvic-floor-disorders-often-overlooked-review-finds/?mc_cid=ac0bc46013&mc_eid=b6f9b4e67a

Emerging diagnostic tools such as dynamic ultrasound and anore**al manometry offer clinicians improved evaluation of postpartum pelvic floor disorders, yet standardized screening protocols remain limited.

08/12/2025

Pessaries are a valuable tool for many women at some point in their journey, but like all aspects of health, insufficient screening follow-up can increase risk of complications. It is critical women are firmly advised that checkups are a necessity to maintain healthy tissue integrity. Ring pessaries are the most common pessary type and considered very safe; tissue erosion is most likely to occur with Gellhorn and donut pessaries. Dismissing checkups long term can lead to serious consequences. Warning, graphic images.

https://www.urologytimes.com/view/erosion-of-ring-pessary-with-bladder-rupture-and-complete-eversion-a-report-of-successful-single-stage-transvaginal-repair

"Major complications of ring pessaries are rare but present considerable challenges to surgeons and patients when they do occur," write E. Mackenzie Gibbs, MD, and Charles Lloyd Secrest, MD.

08/11/2025

Women HATE tests to determine cause of chronic constipation. Nothing like simulating pooping with an audience or probes inserted re**ally to give you the heebeegeebees.

What's not to like about a painless, relatively non-invasive test that analyzes real-time function of pelvic floor muscles while it assesses dynamic movement of pelvic floor structure, scouting for rectocele, internal re**al prolapse, enterocele, and internal re**al intussusception.

https://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12876-025-04171-9

Background and aims The utility of transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) in combination with anore**al manometry (ARM) in the evaluation of women with obstructive defecation syndrome (ODS) remains unclear. We investigated the combined performance of TPUS and ARM in the evaluation of female patients with O...

08/11/2025

For those of you in the greater Milwaukee area, I'll be providing a POP presentation at a free APOPS luncheon October 4th at the Mukwonago library.

While I've been speaking at medical, govt, industry, and research events since 2011, my heart is in sharing info and energy with women experiencing POP. Seating is limited to 100 women, so early registration is recommended. QR code and link to registration are inserted into the flyer.

See you there!
Sher

08/08/2025

TGIF

08/08/2025

Pregnancy is part and parcel of pelvic organ prolapse. Biomechanics must not be overlooked, but don't see much in the way of research. Thank you Anastasia Topalidou for the brilliant article.

https://theconversation.com/why-we-still-dont-understand-what-happens-to-womens-bodies-during-labour-261803

We know more about the mechanics of space than of childbirth. With no studies or evidence, care is based on assumptions, and women are paying the price.

08/07/2025

The co-existence between bladder health and pelvic organ prolapse is very common and significant. POP issues are often overlooked in women treated for bladder health issues when they are not referred to subspecializing urogynecologists. It was such a pleasure to bridge with The National Association For Continence (NAFC) to take a deep dive into pelvic organ prolapse, covering a few layers rarely openly discussed.

Comorbidity in the pelvic organ prolapse rarely gets the attention it deserves. Thank you for the invite Sarah Jenkins and your guidance re navigation was smooth as silk Bruce Kassover.

https://nafc.org/bhealth-blog/what-is-happening-to-my-body-pelvic-organ-prolapse-explained/

The National Association For Continence provides education, community and support to those living with bladder, bowel or pelvic floor health disorders.

08/06/2025

I LOVE this study out of Romania. If you want to know how women with feel, just ask them.

https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2025/07250/pelvic_organ_prolapse_after_vaginal_birth__a.99.aspx?context=latestarticles

08/05/2025

One of the most bothersome symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse I experienced was difficulty starting my urine stream. It is incredibly uncomfortable and frustrating to wake up at 3:30 AM with strong urge to p*e but no flow.

I am surprised I don't see more rhetoric regarding difficulty initiating the urine stream or slow flow. It's not rocket science to visualize organs that have shifted out of place blocking the bladder outlet or "crimping the hose".

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40673024/