Discovering a pelvic organ prolapse after giving birth is a physical and psychological ordeal that many women go through in silence. This is Camille’s story, a mum of three, whose life changed just one week after her third birth, when she received a blunt clinical diagnosis: stage 3 uterine prolapse. Through her journey, from shock to surgery and finally to reclaiming her pelvic health day by day, she breaks the taboo to share a message of hope and awareness with all women. In this article, discover her moving testimony, enriched with medical insights to help you better understand and treat this condition. Here’s what you’ll take away from this inspiring story:
- The shock of discovery: How advanced pelvic organ prolapse can appear in the immediate postpartum period, even in an active, sporty woman.
- The search for answers and the surgical solution: The treatment journey for stress urinary incontinence, leading to a sacral colpopexy at 38 years old
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Reclaiming her body: The crucial importance of ongoing, active pelvic floor maintenance, especially thanks to biofeedback from the Emy Trainer pelvic floor trainer.
The postpartum shock: when your body gives way after a third birth
“Everything changed in the shower, just one week after my third child was born. In that gentle postpartum moment, my hand felt the unthinkable: a lump coming out of my body. The shock was instant. A mix of terror and disbelief. I had just given life, and I felt as though my own body was giving way, as if part of me were falling apart. My midwife, who came that same afternoon, was an invaluable support, confirming my concerns clearly and kindly before referring me to my gynaecologist.”
This sudden discovery is characteristic of genital prolapse. Often invisible from the outside at rest, pelvic organ prolapse is precisely marked by this feeling of a “vaginal bulge” or heaviness, made worse by prolonged standing or exertion.
In the immediate postpartum period, the ligament tissues and muscles of the pelvic floor are particularly vulnerable, stretched by the baby’s passage and the strong intra-abdominal pressure experienced throughout pregnancy.
The diagnosis of stage 3 prolapse and the paradox of the “perfect body”
“The diagnosis hit like a clinical verdict: stage 3 prolapse. And yet, around me, the illusion was complete. I was a sporty, active woman, and I’d regained an impeccable figure in record time. People were complimenting me on how I looked, even though at “Inside, I felt broken. Every day was a battle against gravity. That constant feeling of a “tampon too large”, that need to lie down at the end of the day to ease the pressure. I looked after my three children with the same intensity as before, but I was living outside my own body.”
The gap between an athletic appearance and the reality of pelvic floor health is a common phenomenon. A very toned superficial abdominal wall (the rectus abdominis muscles) can mask deep pelvic floor weakness. Worse still, traditional abdominal exercises (crunches) create high intra-abdominal pressure that pushes the organs downward.
In the medical classification, stage 3 corresponds to an advanced prolapse where the organ (in this case, the uterus) reaches or extends beyond the vaginal opening, causing significant physical discomfort and seriously affecting everyday activities.
The therapeutic journey and the silence around intimacy
“Pelvic floor therapy became a burden. Between manual sessions and electrostimulation, my life revolved around my pelvic floor, without me seeing any progress. That feeling of being stuck was exhausting. Then the inevitable happened: stress urinary incontinence appeared. It was the final blow to my femininity. I cut myself off from my sex life. How can you feel desirable when you’re ashamed of your intimate body functions? Despite my husband’s support, I had locked myself away in painful secrecy.”
The onset of stress urinary incontinence (involuntary leaks when coughing, laughing or making physical effort) is closely linked to pelvic floor disorders. When anatomical support weakens, the urethral closure mechanisms are affected.
The psychological impact on sexuality and self-confidence is one of the heaviest aspects of this condition. Shame and taboo unfortunately lead many women to keep silent, even though multidisciplinary support solutions are available.
Grief and rebuilding: the stage of prolapse surgery
“A year after the start of this ordeal, the verdict was in: surgery was inevitable. At 38, I underwent sacrocolpopexy and a partial hysterectomy. Saying goodbye to your uterus so young is deeply unsettling for your sense of identity. Psychological support was my lifeline in accepting this body, ‘repaired’ but transformed. Recovery, with a one-year-old baby who still wasn’t walking, was the final physical challenge in this marathon.”
According to the French National Authority for Health (HAS), between 10% and 20% of women living with a pelvic floor disorder undergo surgery during their lifetime.
The sacrocolpopexy via the upper approach is a href="/en-eu/blogs/emy/operation-descente-organe" target="_blank">the reference procedure in young, active women. It involves repositioning and suspending the descended organs using synthetic strips fixed in front of the sacrum.
It is a major procedure that requires a strict recovery period and psychological support to come to terms with the loss of initial anatomical integrity, especially when a hysterectomy is performed at the same time.
Eight years later: becoming the guardian of her pelvic floor
“Today, I’ve got my normal life back, but I’ve learned a crucial lesson: the implant doesn’t do everything. It supports, but it doesn’t replace vigilance. I had to relearn how to move. My physical activity is now fully adapted: I work my deep core muscles and my posture. That’s essential, because in the case of sacrocolpopexy, tension is paid for with chronic lower back pain. As I approach premenopause, I remain extremely attentive. With the natural drop in collagen that weakens muscle fibres and fascia, I continue my maintenance with modern tools. In particular, I use the Emy Trainer pelvic floor trainer, which gives me real control and biofeedback on my tone. It’s my barometer: it lets me know exactly where I stand and adjust my efforts.”
Surgery repairs the anatomy, but it does not recreate muscle function. Adapted physical activity (transverse muscle training, postural protection) is crucial to prevent recurrence and limit physical compensation, such as lower back pain.
In addition, ageing and hormonal transitions such as menopause lead to a drop in oestrogen and changes in collagen, weakening the pelvic floor. The use of home medical devices based on biofeedback, such as the Emy Trainer pelvic floor trainer, proves to be an excellent therapeutic maintenance strategy for measuring your muscle strength and maintaining optimal tone independently.
Breaking the taboo around pelvic organ prolapse: you’re not alone
“If I had to speak to the woman I was under that shower, or to all those who are discovering this reality today, I would say this: you’re not alone. Don’t let anyone trivialise your situation or your emotional distress. It’s not ‘normal’ to suffer in silence just because you’ve had children. Today, people are speaking out, support groups exist, and social media helps break isolation. You have the right to say that things aren’t okay. This is not just a physical discomfort, it’s an assault on what is most intimate to us. Take care of yourself, get informed, and stay in charge of your own recovery. This testimony has for but to echo the experiences of all the patients who live through this struggle in the shadows. The road is long, but reclaiming your body is possible. »
What you need to know about Camille’s journey
This stage 3 prolapse testimonial highlights the raw yet hopeful reality of a successful recovery. Whether conservative or surgical, the management of pelvic organ prolapse is a lifelong commitment, requiring consistency and the right tools.
Here are the 3 key takeaways:
- An invisible condition: An advanced-stage prolapse can affect young, active, sporty women; external abdominal tone does not reflect the deep health of the pelvic floor.
- How surgery and lifestyle habits work together: If sacrocolpopexy restores anatomy when initial training fails, it must be accompanied by lasting changes in posture and the way you move to make the results last.
- Long-term maintenance: Maintaining pelvic tone is essential, particularly in the face of the hormonal changes of premenopause. Regular use of an innovative biofeedback-based solution, such as the connected Emy Trainer pelvic floor trainer, lets you effectively guide your recovery at home and actively protect your intimacy every day.
Sources
- Therapeutic management of female genital prolapse, Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS), May 2021, Clinical Practice Guideline (HAS) - link
- Clinical practice recommendations: Preventing complications of prosthetic surgery for female genital prolapse, French National College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF), December 2011, Updates in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (35th National CNGOF Congress) - link
