Prolapse and Your Period- How to Manage Increased Symptoms during Your Period

Do you notice increased prolapse symptoms during your period? If so, you aren’t alone. Many of my clients and women I chat with notice an uptick in symptoms around ovulation and their period. Why?

Hormonal shifts can have an impact on your pelvic floor, for sure! These hormonal shifts happen often- in pregnancy, postpartum, during and after breast or chestfeeding, peri-menopause, and- you guessed it- every. single. month during menstrual cycles. Your uterus actually changes size during your cycle and your cervical position will also change.

Bodies are pretty rad, right?

Okay, so maybe not if you’re trying to manage ever-changing symptoms or wondering if your pelvic floor will ever feel normal again.

First, I want to note that if you’re stuck in a cycle of symptoms and you just can’t seem to find relief- the thought of having recurring symptoms every month, even when you’ve learned to manage them, can leave you feeling a little ragey. I get that.

This is not to say that the symptoms you experience during cycles will be bad or debilitating. Many people note that it’s just a bit more noticeable than normal and the recurring symptoms really don’t impact their day to day much at all.

If you’re wondering how to manage symptoms that you have daily- please check out my free resource on POP symptom management here.

If you’re just seeking some validation that, yes, this happens and a few tips that could be helpful for you while managing this temporary increase in symptoms, read on!

Here are some things to try if you’re noticing a symptom increase during your cycle:

• Add in some pelvic floor contractions, unless they lead to more symptoms. Focus on a full range of motion- relaxing your pelvic floor on inhale and contracting gently on exhale.

• Prioritize more recovery-based or low-impact movement for now

• Temporarily decrease the intensity of your workouts if you’re experiencing symptoms in the gym

• Drink more water and less coffee on symptomatic days

Anecdotally, many people will notice increased symptoms for a few days then feel back to their norm- so try not to add a ton of stress on top of the stress that is your period!

Managing pelvic floor symptoms is never a one-size-fits-all, so when in doubt see a pelvic floor physical therapist, if you have access to one, and work with a coach educated in prolapse to build strength in and out of the gym.

Tired of the pelvic floor guesswork getting in the way of your workouts and daily life? Inside of my 1:1 coaching program, I support my clients with workouts to help them manage and reduce pelvic floor symptoms so they are able to feel strong and capable in their daily lives.

If you’d like to learn more about what our next steps might be, fill out a coaching application here!