Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support - APOPS

Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support - APOPS APOPS provides guidance and support to women navigating pelvic organ prolapse. https://www.pelvicorganprolapsesupport.org/apops-forum.

Women preferring a private forum to talk about POP with other women can request entry into APOPS
closed forum. ABOUT APOPS
Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support(APOPS) is a USA based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with global arms, founded in September 2010 to generate awareness of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), to provide support and guidance to women navigating the physical, emotional, social, sexua

l, fitness, and employment impact of POP, and to bridge patients, healthcare, industry, research, academia, and policy makers for the betterment of POP understanding and treatment evolution. MISSION STATEMENT
APOPS mission is to advance global pelvic organ prolapse awareness, guidance, and support, and to innovate universal POP healthcare, education, and research. VISION STATEMENT
APOPS vision is international evolution of pelvic organ prolapse awareness and understanding to optimize women's pelvic health empowerment. APOPS GOALS

IMMEDIATE GOALS
Establish pelvic organ prolapse awareness. Provide global guidance and support for women with POP. Bridge build with key stakeholders and organizations to evolve understanding of women's pelvic floor needs. LONG TERM GOALS
Routine POP screening. Accurate statistical data capture. Address diagnostic clinician educational curriculum. APOPS VALUES
APOPS operates within these core values:

ACCESSIBILITY
Commitment to open access, a spirit of generosity, and the active invitation to engage and contribute that continuously expands reach and sustains growth. AGILITY
Ability to rapidly reconfigure and realign resources to lead in new directions and respond as needed within the industry. INNOVATION
Vigilance in continuously searching for new ways to disseminate ideas. INCLUSIVITY
Purposeful consideration of expansive ideas and the engagement of all voices to ensure the broadest perspective and awareness. COLLABORATION
Recognition that overall success is driven by a willingness to partner with others in the sharing of ideas, information, and action that ensures better outcomes for all involved.

Guiding a loved one through end-of-life while running any business, much less a patient advocacy nonprofit, is a deeply ...
05/28/2026

Guiding a loved one through end-of-life while running any business, much less a patient advocacy nonprofit, is a deeply personal journey. One that blends caregiving, anticipatory grief, leadership, and the challenge of sustaining mission amid profound life transition.

One of the most heart-wrenching events that occurs in our lives is one-on-one end-of-life caregiving. This post is a bit sideways from my usual pelvic organ prolapse sharing. It is up close and personal. It's equally emotional and visceral. Its strength and weakness all rolled up into a guttural ball. June is Pelvic Organ Prolapse Awareness Month and patient advocacy does not take days off. But zero doubt I will be a bit slower, a bit more scattered, and a tad less focused on the women APOPS is committed to supporting over the coming days, weeks, or possibly longer, including during June, POP Awareness Month.

Experiencing the intersect of caregiving, loss, and leadership will likely be quite the education in strength. There are seasons when leadership and compassion collide - when guiding a loved one unfolds alongside the daily responsibility of sustaining a for-profit or nonprofit business.

I was blessed to be able to spend my dad's final couple of days with him, recognize when his exit was upon us, hold his hand and talk him through the transition to the other side. To those who have walked this walk, thank you for respecting your loved one. To those who see this journey coming just around the bend, I encourage you to try to set work aside a bit and be strong in the moments of value to bond tightly with and nurture your loved one's journey. You will cherish the memory forever.

The most common issues with pessaries are related to improper fit or inappropriate type being inserted. Pessary curricul...
05/26/2026

The most common issues with pessaries are related to improper fit or inappropriate type being inserted. Pessary curriculum is unfortunately poorly provided within most fields of practice inserting and servicing pessaries. Thankfully there are some amazing practitioners who really know their pessary "stuff".

While efforts to experiment with a pessary are valuable to help women get more familiar with their pelvic floor, they don't always work out smoothly, effectively, or long term. Pessary complications can include discomfort, discharge, odor (can be addressed with Trimosan use), tissue erosion (vaginal ulcers), infection, allergic response, or fistula (rare).

Memorial Day we honor all military who died in service to our country. Veteran's Day honors all who have served in the m...
05/25/2026

Memorial Day we honor all military who died in service to our country. Veteran's Day honors all who have served in the military whether during time of war or peace. Clearly both sectors deserve our utmost respect.

Our independence comes with a price. Thank you does not come close to vocalizing the respect those in all service branches deserve, most especially those who paid the ultimate price.

TGIF
05/22/2026

TGIF

Many women interpret the common 6-8 week postoperative visit as meaning tissues are completely healed. They shouldn't....
05/21/2026

Many women interpret the common 6-8 week postoperative visit as meaning tissues are completely healed. They shouldn't. Heal curves are unique.

Every woman's body is somewhat unique. While we have generalizations about types and combinations of types of POP, types of surgeries, types of recoveries, reality is every woman's backdrop is somewhat unique; there is no simple answer.

One of the most common questions we hear behind APOPS curtain from women heading into surgery is "Can you kindly tell me what the outcomes usually are for this?" (insert general POP type, activity patient wants to engage in).

There are so many variables with POP surgical procedures. Patient age. Estrogen level. Co-existing health conditions. Lifestyle activities and behaviors. How well you normally heal. How many prolapses are being repaired. Grade of POP severity. Tissue integrity (for example some women have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome or Marfan, which make the tissues weaker and slower to heal). Type of surgery (each type has variables), plus the experience and skill-set of the surgeon.

Early healing is more typically incision or surface healing. Deeper tissue remodeling and scar formation takes longer. Soft tissue healing and collagen remodeling continue for weeks to months after surgery. This is one reason many pelvic surgeons and pelvic floor therapists recommend a gradual return to activities.

While APOPS generally suggests women ask their surgeons, we also gently suggest women consider a 12-week frame to take into account all factors. When in doubt, wait for tissues and swelling to settle down before getting gung-ho after a repair for long-term repair efficacy, and then slowly work your way back into your normal routine minus heavy lifting or hard foot-strike activities.

Baby steps in stages, closely monitoring how you feel. Listen to your body.

Women are often looking for both advice and permission when it comes to vaginal or vulval medical concerns.The underlyin...
05/21/2026

Women are often looking for both advice and permission when it comes to vaginal or vulval medical concerns.

The underlying questions are often:

Am I overreacting?

Is this normal?

Do I deserve help?

Can I still live normally?

Should I take this seriously?

The deeper issue is stigmatized vaginal health is not as simple as a lack of information. Uncertainty, fear, and the need for validation of a condition surrounded by stigma and conflicting messages can be a tightrope to walk, and that journey is often walked alone since few women share these incredibly personal experiences.

Wait and THEN WHAT???Because women are not educated about pelvic floor changes during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, pe...
05/20/2026

Wait and THEN WHAT???

Because women are not educated about pelvic floor changes during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, perimenopause, aging, or rarely recognized or acknowledged tissue integrity conditions, pelvic organ prolapse symptoms tend to be normalized, overlooked, or dismissed. Pelvic floor therapy, lifestyle modification, or pessary use often sit in the wait until it gets worse closet, especially in young women, at which point they get introduced. Come back when it bothers you more is a ridiculous mindset when it comes to conditions known to continue to progress.

Missed opportunities for preventative actions and early management in the POP space are unacceptable.

It makes sense that as muscle tissue strength declines, POP risk increases. While we are increasing knowledge of testost...
05/18/2026

It makes sense that as muscle tissue strength declines, POP risk increases. While we are increasing knowledge of testosterone value in women, we have a long way to go.

I was one of those PCOS (now known as PMOS) women who didn't know that was a thing until I tried to get pregnant in my 30s. Classic signs that meant nothing to me. Pizza face. No periods. Then discovering the roadblocks it created against fertility. 8 eggs on one o***y, 9 on the other - that was a gamble back in the early days of fertility exploration. "Sign this paper please that you won't sue us if you have 5 kids. Yikesville decisions. Excess testosterone can be a blessing or a curse.

Of all the bioidenticals I use, I love testosterone the most. High testosterone level is my norm, my body didn't know what estrogen abundance belt like until I got pregnant. High testosterone levels optimize sexual desire. Bone health. Muscle definition and strength. Started using it in my early 40s with blossoming of menopause and will continue to use it as long as I'm on this side of the dirt. When you look good, you are more likely to feel good.

I am curious about the increased DHEA-S results in this study. The how, the why given testosterone level is low. I know testosterone and DHEA-S are both tied to adrenals, but zippo beyond that.

Interesting study, would absolutely like to see more and deeper testosterone dives.

Salivary Free Testosterone as a Potential Biomarker for Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Postmenopausal Women: A Prospective Case-Control Study

(image courtesy of SheCares)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42138067/

Talk about misconceptions....All too often, women assume that if they have surgery to repair Prolapse, they are out of...
05/14/2026

Talk about misconceptions....

All too often, women assume that if they have surgery to repair Prolapse, they are out of the woods for the rest of their lives. A one-and-done lifetime repair no matter what they do in their daily flow. Return to hard foot strike fitness activities without protection for the pelvic floor. Picking up 50 # sacks of feed on the farm without utilizing core and floor support. Lifting babies and grandbabies with no awareness of downward pressure to the pelvic floor.

Reality is if you are any phase of pelvic floor disorder, pre-diagnosis but suspect you have POP, been diagnosed in early grade and using nonsurgical treatments, heading into surgery, post-surgery whether 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, or years, maintenance is critical to optimize your pelvic floor strength and integrity long term.

Ladies please protect and maintain your repairs long term. Unless you are a professional athlete with a strong awareness of the muscle tissue strength and integrity in your core/floor, it's not worth risking a repeat repair once your estrogen drops slowly toward the basement in perimenopause and then flies out the window with menopause. Estrogen is fuel to your muscle tissue - including your pelvic floor.

And doctors, instead of telling ladies heading into POP surgery they can go back to all their former activities once they have passed the 6 week, 8 week, 12 week post-surgical heal curve, please suggest they figure out what type of maintenance they prefer to do to maintain your quality repairs long term.

Think about it....do your biceps look ripped if you haven't exercised in 10 years? Your pelvic floor structure is muscle tissue.

Address

8225 State Road 83
Mukwonago, WI
53149

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

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+12626424338

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