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hello. I’m Dr. Sangchul Hwang, and I’m here to help you find balance in your pelvic floor. Is bladder leak surgery the only answer? In the first installment, we explained what pelvic organ prolapse (bladder leakage, uterine prolapse, etc.) is and why it’s not just a problem with the pelvic muscles, but the result of a disruption in the body’s axis that runs from the head to the hips.
In today’s follow-up, we’re going to cut to the chase, from modern surgical treatmentsfor cystocele, to traditional Chinese medicine remedies, to preventative measures you can start practicing today. By the end of this article, you’ll have gone from vague fear to confidence.
Step-by-step treatment in modern medicine: From Kegel exercises to mesh surgery.
Treatment will vary depending on the severity of your symptoms. In the early stages, the standard Kegel exercisesare a good place to start. However, it’s important to note that you should perform these exercises under the guidance of a professional to feel like you’re pulling your entire pelvis upward, as tightening your anus alone can actually increase abdominal pressure and worsen your symptoms.
If the organ has descended to the point where daily activities are impossible, surgical options may be considered. In the past, sutures were used to cut away the stretched vaginal wall, but nowadays, ‘cystocele mesh surgery’ (correction) is commonly performed. This involves inserting a medical mesh to push the sagging bladder up and secure it in its original position, and has the advantage of a low recurrence rate. However, there are potential side effects such as mesh exposure and pain, so it should only be done by an experienced surgeon.
‘Incontinence’ and ‘Sexual Function’ Issues to Know Before and After Surgery
One of the most common questions we hear from patients considering surgery is, “I have incontinence after surgery that I didn’t have before surgery.” This is not the fault of the surgery; it’s the result of the urethra being stretched by the surgery, which stretches the urethra that has been curved due to a severely depressed bladder, revealing previously hidden incontinence symptoms.
In addition, excessive removal of the vaginal mucosa or too narrow an opening during surgery can cause pain or discomfort during sex. Therefore, a delicate approach to lifting the organ while preserving as much of the vaginal mucosaas possible is necessary, and managing pelvic muscle tone before and after surgery is essential.
Chinese Medicine’s View of Root Cure: Craniosacral Chuna to Correct the Body’s Axis
Where modern medicine physically fixes the descended organ, Chinese medicine focuses on the root cause of “why the organ descended”. The three pillars of treatment that I consider most important in my practice are
- Craniosacral tuning (CST): Normalizes the rhythm of cerebrospinal fluid flowing from the head (cranium) to the hipbone (sacrum), helping the pelvic floor muscles to regain their own elasticity. It is also very effective for those who feel like their organs are “falling out” when they haven’t actually descended much.
- Body Shape Correction Therapy: When the S-curve of the spine is broken, as in “flat-back” or “split-back,” abdominal pressure is abnormally high, pushing organs downward. Leveling the misaligned pelvis creates physical space for the organs to stay in place.
- Upliftingherbal medicine: Correct “qi deficiency,” a condition that causes the energy to sag downward. We prescribe customized herbal formulas to nourish weakened ligaments and muscle tissue to restore elasticity.
Pelvic Health Prevention Tips to Start Practicing Today
Daily management is just as important as treatment. The key principle is that ‘strengthening the pelvic muscles’ and ‘lowering abdominal pressure’ should be done simultaneously.
- Stay hydrated: Drink 1.5 to 1.8 liters of lukewarm water per day in small sips to reduce bladder strain.
- Manage abdominal pressure: Obesity (especially abdominal obesity) and chronic constipation are major contributors to weakened pelvic muscles. Be sure to break the habit of straining too hard on the toilet.
- Correct your posture: Squatting, sitting on one leg, and lifting heavy objects frequently can overload the sacrum and worsen bladder flow.
- Post-menopause care: Tissue elasticity drops dramatically due to hormonal decline, so it’s wise to be extra vigilant about bad habits and seek professional help.
“Don’t ignore the SOS signals your body is sending you”
Pelvic organ prolapse or bladder leakage is not something to be ashamed of – it’s a desperate way for your body to say, “I’m falling apart, I need help.” While surgery is an option to fix the protrusion, we want you to look at the root cause of why your body’s center of gravity is tilted in the first place.
Correcting the core of the body and wisely combining it with surgery when necessary is my approach to integrative medicine. I hope you don’t have to suffer alone, and that an accurate diagnosis will help you get back to your normal life.
We pray that you will always be at peace in body and mind, thank you.
