When Helen Ledwick typed into Google nearly ten years ago, “Why do I feel like my organs are falling out,” she had no idea that this research would mark the beginning of a profound change in her life.
The journalist and former BBC podcast presenter discovered she had pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a condition that affects around 1 in 12 women after giving birth, but which many have never heard of.
Prolapse occurs when one or more pelvic organs, such as the bladder, bowel, or uterus, move from their usual position and press on the vaginal wall, causing a bulge that can be felt inside or outside the vagina.
This disease is not life-threatening, but it can affect daily life, relationships, and mental health.
Symptoms can include a strong feeling of heaviness or something moving in the vagina – which some describe as feeling like “sitting on a tennis ball.”
In Ledwick’s case, the shock came two weeks after the difficult birth of her second child.
“I got up off the couch and suddenly I felt like everything was moving,” he recalls. “It was like the plug was out of place. You feel like something is wrong.”
Confused and frightened, she grabbed a mirror and her cell phone to understand what was happening.
“I’d never heard the word landing before,” he says. Since he started talking about the topic, he has realized that it is still taboo, despite its popularity.
Ledwick believes the shame and stigma surrounding the topic contributes to a lack of information among women and health professionals, something she is trying to change.
Helen Ledwick says her diagnosis, confirmed by a doctor, brought confusion and fear. “I expected an explanation, a cure, and some urgency. But what I received was uncertainty.”
The initial guidelines were to avoid activities that could aggravate the condition, such as running, jumping or lifting weights.
“The advice seemed to be: Don’t live your life,” he says.
The isolation was harder than the physical symptoms.
“You live in shame, silence and loneliness,” he explains. “Because it’s not talked about, you think you’re the only person in the world going through it.”
Seeking support, Ledwick took to Instagram. She found other women anxious and confused — some too embarrassed to ask for help — which led her to create a podcast and write the book Why Moms Don’t Leap.
The goal was to provide a platform for women to share stories and break the silence around pelvic health.
“I was angry because no one was talking about it,” he says. “So I decided to speak out.” “I wanted to give women the knowledge that took so long to find, and the comfort of knowing they are not alone.”
Dr. Nighat Arif, a women’s health specialist, says that Helen’s condition is common and that symptoms do not always appear.
“Sometimes there’s no visible lump, just a feeling of pressure, which can be in the lower back, in the front, or at the top, near the navel,” he explains. “Symptoms can also worsen during sex, which is another topic that is still very taboo.”
Prolapse can have several causes: childbirth, heavy lifting, weight gain, constipation, or even a hysterectomy. In rare cases, it can also occur in men.
Pregnancy and natural childbirth increase the risk of prolapse, especially after a difficult birth.
Women are also more susceptible to prolapse as they age, especially after menopause.
Pelvic floor exercises and lifestyle changes help relieve symptoms, but some cases require medical treatment, such as the use of vaginal pessaries (removable devices used to support the vaginal walls or prolapsed uterus) or surgery.
Women with prolapse may notice a swelling or bulge inside the vagina “due to weak pelvic floor ligaments, which can displace the bladder, for example,” explains gynecologist Christine Ekechi, MD.
What started as a solitary Google search 15 years ago has turned into something much bigger: a movement to help other women recognize the problem and seek help, Ledwick says.
In his case, the recovery was slow but transformative. “It was a long process, of gradual strengthening, with postpartum exercises and strength training,” he says.
After that, she went to a physical therapist who helped her return to running. Ledwick says it was a “defining moment because she really thought she would never be able to do this again.”
Now Helen Ledwick is doing more than she thought was possible, and has signed up to run a 10k race.
“I feel good and I’ve learned how to deal with the symptoms. I still have prolapse, but it no longer rules my life like it used to. I feel like I’m winning the battle.”
Diagnosis and possible treatments
According to the Brazilian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Societies (Febrasgo), the diagnosis is generally confirmed through a physical examination, with the woman placed in a gynecological position and by performing a Valsalva maneuver – a breathing exercise in which a person exhales forcefully while keeping his lips and nose covered, which increases the pressure.
Also according to Vibrasco, treatment for prolapse is recommended for women who show symptoms or who suffer from complications resulting from its presence, such as kidney problems and obstruction of the urinary or intestinal tract.
“For example, if the space that supports the bladder is compromised, the woman will experience symptoms such as difficulty urinating, complete emptying of the bladder, sometimes urge incontinence, and recurrent urinary infections,” explains Marcelo Lemos dos Reis, Vice President of the Regional Medical Council of Santa Catarina (CRM-SC), in the video published by the organization on the subject.
According to Fibrasco, treatment for genital prolapse can be conservative or surgical. Conservative options include the vaginal pessaries mentioned above in the text, which are sometimes accompanied by the use of estrogen creams before and after insertion of the pessaries.
Pelvic floor muscle training is also recommended for mild prolapse and can reduce symptoms and improve muscle function, although it does not correct advanced prolapse.
In cases that require surgery, according to the evaluation of specialist doctors, the surgical approach depends on the diagnosis and the affected areas.
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