Ageless and Outrageous

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Kristin Jackson

21 February 2024

43m 8s

Hanging by a Thread: What's Falling Out of My Vagina?

00:00

43:08

Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition that affects many women, with up to 40% experiencing it in their lifetime. This podcast episode provides an in-depth discussion of pelvic organ prolapse, focusing on:
  • The causes, symptoms, and risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse
  • How pregnancy, genetics, and menopause may increase the risk of developing prolapse
  • What lifestyle factors affect prolapse
  • Common myths about sex and pelvic organ prolapse
  • The use of pessaries as a non-surgical treatment option
  • Surgical options, including reconstructive and obliterative surgery, and the considerations involved in choosing the right approach for person
  • The importance of choosing a high-volume surgeon for successful outcomes
Uncover everything about pelvic organ prolapse, from your two pelvic floor experts--Dr Jackson and Rosalind!
Key moments in this episode are:
00:00 What is pelvic organ prolapse
00:46 Vaginal anatomy
01:30 Weakened fascia
02:41 What causes prolapse--pregnancy
03:36 What causes prolapse--genetics
04:10 What causes prolapse--aging and lifestyle
05:50 Symptoms of prolapse
07:10 Sex and prolapse
07:59 Layers of the vagina
09:51 Treatment with observation
10:59 Nonsurgical treatment with pessaries
11:08 Interesting history of pessaries
12:38 Getting the right fit
13:57 Pessary care
14:56 The craziest pessary I ever used
16:23 Can't I just do Kegels?
18:35 Removing the stigma of a pessary
19:52 Mucus with a pessary
21:03 Surgery for prolapse
23:31 The topic of vaginal mesh
27:27 Possible complications with vaginal mesh
29:31 Can mesh be removed?
30:20 Slings vs vaginal mesh
32:15 When to consider surgery for prolapse
33:07 Obliterative vaginal surgeries
36:35 Recurrence of prolapse after surgery
37:38 Non-mesh options for vaginal repair
40:32 Choosing a high volume pelvic surgeon
Learn more about pelvic organ prolapse here:
https://www.augs.org/assets/2/6/POP.pdf
Learn about pessaries here:
https://www.voicesforpfd.org/
Discover more about vaginal suspension surgery here:
https://www.augs.org/Vaginal_Suspension_Surgery.pdf
And learn about vaginal closure surgery (colpocleisis) here:
https://www.augs.org/Colpocleisis.pdf
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