Effects of Pelvic Organ Prolapse to the Elderly

Vaginal mesh has been primarily used for pelvic organ prolapse for many years, medical industry journals report. The consequences of the application of this device have recently overwhelmed US regulators and some law courts in the United States. The FDA also received numerous appeals from concerned groups and individuals to label vaginal mesh as class 3 devices; the agency took these recommendations. 
Medical specialists believe that the development of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) may be difficult to avoid. Because it has been observed to mainly affect the elderly, there is no doubt that every woman is predisposed to developing it as she reaches the age of maturity, especially if she has experienced pelvic trauma or tissue problems before. Even women who were never exposed to pelvic defects, tissue disorders, lifting weights, smoking, and childbirth still have the likelihood of acquiring prolapse as their bodies mature; this may be attributed to postural changes, experts say.

The organs enclosed in the pelvic cavity may easily shift because the very structure underneath them (which is the pelvic floor) is not stable enough to support all of their weight. All elderly women are affected by postural changes; with this, the pelvic organ prolapse is most likely to come about. Poor posture is developed when daily positions such as sitting are incorrectly done. According to clinical research, prolonged sitting leads to the straightening of the lower back curve. Any physical alteration to this lumbar curve (such as what happens in old age) may cause prolapse.

If you are a young woman affected with prolapse and perplexed with all its unpleasant symptoms, perhaps you would understand how overwhelming this condition may be to women over the age of 50. These women will most likely avoid embarrassing discussions involving their private parts. But this does not provide they are less affected by prolapse. Because physical functions decline with age, even taking care of themselves is strenuous for the elderly; once they are affected with prolapse, the results would be devastating. The elderly often develop the worst prolapse which are associated with other serious side effects such as infections and incontinence. Because of poor tissue quality, corrective surgical procedures do not work well in their case. Those who opted for a surgical procedure have been subjected to multiple corrective surgeries thereafter.
 For the elderly, there is no need to worry themselves of the specific aspects of their health condition. Most of the time, they would just rely on medical advice and take anything suggested by their doctors as state-of the art treatments, not knowing that they are putting themselves to greater risks. A vaginal mesh lawsuit may not be sufficient enough for them to bring back the good lives they once had.