Uterine prolapse is a condition that can affect up 50 percent of the female population at some point during life, and that can lead to a number of life-altering complications that can make it difficult for women to enjoy their years after menopause. With complications such as abdominal bloating, urinary incontinence, and general malaise being some of the major factors linked to uterine prolapse, it is no wonder that women are turning to various home remedies to manage their symptoms [1] — especially if their doctor dismisses them, or they are too embarrassed to seek medical attention in the first place.
There are many natural and non-surgical interventions that patients can take to strengthen their uterine canals and find a solution for their uterine prolapse treatment. [2] Let's take a closer look!
Natural Remedies for Uterine Prolapse
When a patient presents to the clinic with a suspected uterine prolapse, the universal standard of care for this condition falls into one of two categories.
If a patient has slight or asymptomatic pelvic prolapse, the patient is recommended to engage in some type of non-surgical conservative therapy to quickly find a solution. Should the uterine prolapse be more severe, this is when physicians turn to something more permanent in the form of hysterectomies and surgical loops. [3]
A problem where uterine prolapse is quite extensive while management may be sparse takes us to developing countries like India, where uterine prolapse can be quite common and result in more extensive complications like urinary tract infections and even death. Due to the lack of operating theaters in the country, physicians had to determine a more suitable way to manage their patients suffering from uterine prolapse.
In one case study, a doctor followed a 44-year old woman who suffered from a prolapsed uterus and was unable to have surgery because of a bleeding condition (hemophilia). The doctor decided to experiment using an extract from Pudica Mimosa L. (commonly called Lajula in the region) as a herbal remedy for these symptoms. In this investigation, the patient was first instructed to drink an extract of the Lajula root and then asked to apply a paste into her vaginal canal for a 2 to 3 hour period per day and to continue this ritual for 40 days. At the conclusion of the study, the patient was found to have a significantly reduced level of prolapse with no subsequent symptoms of uterine prolapse. [4]
Non-Surgical Interventions for Uterine Prolapse
In the event that a trip to India is out of your price range, and you have a hard time getting your hands on this Lajula root extract, fear not, there are still plenty of non-surgical approaches to realize uterine prolapse treatment. These simple routines are very affordable and can go a long way in preventing more noticeable uterine prolapse symptoms.
Kegel exercises and pelvic floor muscle training exercises are both easy exercises that can go a long way toward preventing the symptoms associated with uterine prolapse. Keep in mind that it is never too late to start strengthening your pelvic floor muscles with Kegel exercises. Even if you already suffer from stress incontinence, you can potentially see a great reduction in symptoms once you regularly start doing these pelvic floor workouts. In a previous article, I discussed Kegel exercises and Lower Pelvic Floor Muscle Training exercises in depth so, in this article, we will just focus on the findings of these interventions.
When considering populations that are high-risk but financially limited, it is nice to have a viable alternative to consider. One study focused on subjects living in a remote area of Nepal. In this population, women are often forced to marry at a young age and begin having sexual intercourse at a younger age than in Western society. These are considered to be high-risk practices, but they are unavoidable in this population.
Even if these women were educated on the risks and difficulties of having a prolapsed uterus, up to 70 percent of the population can have a prolapsed uterus (much higher than the epidemiology in the Western world). This study found that using devices such as ring pessaries (which are also very much available all over the world, including even online) and pelvic floor muscle training exercises. Additionally, the study suggested that the involvement of other target groups such as husbands, adolescents, and mothers-in-law needs to be increased in order to make it easier for women to adapt low-risk behaviors. [5]
Other conservative management options for uterine prolapse target secondary factors that may aggravate and further prolapse already weakened uterine musculature. Women are encouraged to reduce high-risk factors that provoke chronically increased abdominal pressure, which can occur when a patient is often constipated, obese, chronically coughs and still smokes cigarettes.
Women should take lifestyle modifications such as exercising more and avoiding over-eating and smoking cigarettes into account [6]. Patients are even encouraged to avoid foods likely to cause flatulence such as cabbage and beans [7]. Patients are also encouraged to augment their diets to eat higher levels of fiber, which can include foods such as cereals, leafy vegetables or root vegetables.
These lifestyle modifications promote regular bowel movements. Healthier diets may help patients lose weight to alleviate a collapsed uterine wall further. [8]
- Photo courtesy of SteadyHealth.com
Your thoughts on this