Could a Simple Swab Test Predict Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

 

Pelvic organ prolapse is one of many pelvic floor disorders we are able to treat here at Revitalize Physical Therapy. Never heard of it? I’m not surprised! It doesn’t get the coverage it should. Data on how many women are dealing with it also appears to vary. It affects approximately 3% of women in America, according to WebMD; however, the University of Chicago Medical Center says that as many as a third of women can have it by age 80. No small amount!

 

Pelvic organ prolapse is the medical term for what happens when organs, such as the bladder, small intestine, rectum, vagina or uterus, fall either into or out of the vaginal canal or the anus. This can happen due to issues, including pregnancy, delivery, pelvic organ cancers, and constipation. Any woman at any age can be affected potentially, but it’s most prevalent in midlife and among younger senior citizens.

 

Pelvic organ prolapse goes by different names, so you may hear your medical provider use a word like rectocele for a prolapse of the rectum, or cyctocele, when the bladder moves into the vagina. (Cyctocele is in fact the most common form of pelvic organ prolapse.) Pelvic organ prolapse can result in urinary frequency, incomplete emptying of the rectum, or painful sex, to name a few.  

 

So now that you’ve heard about pelvic organ prolapse, your next question might be: How can I avoid it? Fair enough! Some risk factors can be averted and others can’t. You can’t help things like, say, a history of this in your family or having had a baby, but you can make sure you are eating sufficient fiber (25-30 grams/day), and drinking enough water (8 cups/day) to try to avoid constipation. Furthermore, both urination and defecation should be completely passive processes. No straining is required, and if you must strain or push excessively to pass bowel movements, speak to your friendly neighborhood pelvic floor PT! Finally, don’t start smoking or give it up if you are already in the habit (which is a good idea anyway).

 

If you suspect that you have pelvic organ prolapse, the issue may be diagnosed by an ultrasound of your pelvis or other tests involving the bladder or urination. Physical therapy, a pessary and, when all else fails, surgery are used to treat pelvic organ prolapse. (It is worth noting, though, that surgery has a high chance of not working.)

 

Happily, science may be coming along to help further: Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found a potentially noninvasive way to screen for pelvic organ prolapse. They have discovered a vaginal swab test that may identify women who are prone to developing pelvic organ prolapse. The study appears in a medical journal called Aging Medicine. This test found that certain proteins were higher in the vaginal secretions of postmenopausal women who were diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse. 

 

If we know which women are likely to have pelvic organ prolapse, a doctor or pelvic floor therapist can initiate a preventative plan rather than one that treats them when they already are showing symptoms. When it comes to prophylactic treatment, I like to say that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure!

 

The article doesn’t specify when the swab test will be available, but I hope it will come and soon. And you can rest assured that as soon as I have any more updates, I will keep you posted, dear readers. In closing, the sooner we know what’s going on with our pelvic floor health, the better. 

 

RESOURCES/FURTHER READING:

 

https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2023/july-pelvic-floor-disorders.html

 

https://www.totalurologycare.com/services/pelvic-organ-prolapse?gclid=Cj0KCQjwtamlBhD3ARIsAARoaEypktyKARrFGB9toCH_X7KJD2u1nmb3wLQZTDxeCXhzkr6Ji2WUY8kaAptfEALw_wcB

 

https://nyulangone.org/conditions/pelvic-organ-prolapse/diagnosis?cid=sem_google&googadcamp=Virtual_Urgent_Care_Performance_Max&googadgroup=Performance_Max&googkeyword=&googmatchtype=&insitesid=1367&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtamlBhD3ARIsAARoaEw2MHvExjQ5YaXD_OT05Fv35GhbOr1sSjuD3EFS1uVz4aS8OVrC6qUaAg3KEALw_wcB

 

https://www.webmd.com/women/pelvic-organ-prolapse

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4166938/

 

https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/conditions-services/obgyn/urogynecology/pelvic-organ-prolapse

The Inside Story Book Launch

Come one, come all to the long awaited book launch party of The Inside Story: The Jewish Woman’s Guide to Lifelong Pelvic Health! On February 12, 2022, we will have the opportunity to celebrate my five+ years of work together at Mt. Sinai Jewish Center (MSJC). (Nope, not February 13, 2022 as originally planned because, who are we kidding, there is no competing with the Super Bowl. I wouldn’t miss one of my favorite annual events even for my own book launch!)

One out of every three women will experience pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) at some point in her life. PFD often manifests as bladder, bowel, and or sexual dysfunction. How does one know if they are experiencing PFD during the various stages of their life, and what can be done to help address it? The Inside Story is a book designed to help ease life cycle transitions for Jewish women. It addresses the various pelvic health issues that may arise during the life cycle and provides practical exercises and guidance to help address it. The goal of the book is to share information about pelvic floor dysfunction and women’s health so that those suffering in silence can seek out appropriate treatment. 

The program will include a conversation about the book and women’s health between me and Racheli Taubes, Rebbetzin and Yoetzet Halacha of MSJC. Event attendees will receive a copy of the book while enjoying fine wine and scrumptious cheese. Both women and men are invited and encouraged to attend.

The most exciting part about launching this book is that it gives me the opportunity to help an even larger audience. True, I am blessed to love my job tremendously, which includes one on one opportunities to educate my patients. However, too many women don’t even realize that physical therapy can be an invaluable modality to address their symptoms. I hope and pray that this book will help me educate MANY more women, and that it will be included in what I like to call the “Kallah Canon,” the list of books that Kallah teachers encourage their brides to read in preparation for marriage.

To quote Rabbi Yaakov And Rebbetzin Peshi Neuburger (Rav of Congregation Beth Abraham/Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University and Rebbetzin of Congregation Beth Abraham/Educator at Manhattan High School for Girls), “In these pages Riva Preil opens a conversation, friendly and empathetic, instructive and informative, in which she highlights the tools of her craft which can give women confidence  and comfort in many parshiyot of life. Her engaging balance of modesty and clarity will make this volume  invaluable for kallah teachers who wish to replace fear and insecurity with joyful anticipation, as they prepare young brides for robust and fulfilling marriages.”

May God enable me to help as many women as possible on both the micro (day to day with my patients) and macro (The Inside Story) levels!

Link for event registration: https://www.mtsinaishul.com/form/the-inside-story