Terrifying Thought: Did You Know Your Vagina Can Fall Out Of Your Body?
Posted by: Ami Angelowicz
Filed in:
news
1:00PM, Friday November 6th 2009
I thought I was done with vaginal tragedies after hearing about the poor woman with two vaginas. I was mistaken. Brave lady, Allison Henry, is speaking out about her vagina ... which literally fell out. The clinical term for this is “vaginal prolapse.” Read on at your own risk.
Allison was pregnant with her second child and doing some pre-natal yoga when she felt like “someone rammed a pitchfork up [her] butt.” After that she proceeded to bleed for 15 weeks (!!!) straight before giving birth to her son prematurely. Luckily nothing was wrong with the baby—Allison had just developed a hematoma outside of her placenta. But the trauma down south continued.
One day when she was wiping in the bathroom, she noticed that “there wasn’t really a hole there—it felt kind of flat.” And over the next year she began to notice something poking out of her vagina when she was wiping. One night she looked down and saw that all the bits that were supposed to be on the inside were on the outside. Aaarrrgghhhhhh!!! She rushed to her doctor screaming, “My vagina is falling out of my body!” The miffed doctor sent her to a pelvic specialist who concluded, “Holy crap—your vagina is falling out of your body!” Not words any woman ever wants to hear. WTF? Allison was having a complete uterine prolapse.
After dozens of surgeries and post-op complications (I am going to spare you the details because I am squeamish and feel too pukey to write about them), her vagina is back in its proper place and healing, although she is sadly sans uterus. As a consolation prize for all of her suffering (and it was a lot of suffering), she now has the vagina of a 13-year-old with perfect-looking labia. I’m glad Allison’s body is on the mend … and I will add this to my list of things to be terrified about. [Momlogic]
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Christinaval
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:02 pm: [report]
Oh no…..oh no…..
FrzKey
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:06 pm: [report]
Yeah heard about that the other day and immediately went as far away from the pictures my friend tried sending a link to as I possibly could get.
I’m all for knowing as much as possible about your body but I know I’m more than hypochondriac enough to freak out at the mere thought of my innie becoming an outie. Just the details here are enough to make push me that much further on the “no want kids” route. Kids might lead to an outie and I Don’t Want That far more certainly than I might want any hypothetical rugrats.
amandabear
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:06 pm: [report]
I’m going to have nightmares.
amarie
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:07 pm: [report]
omg, wtf?!
tabby
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:11 pm: [report]
Now I am going to be terrified about that, great.
Princess_Diana
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:14 pm: [report]
This is actually pretty common.. but the chances are greater the older you are.
mayorbubbles
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:17 pm: [report]
oh god :(
maroon
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:20 pm: [report]
one more thing to lose sleep over. fantastic!
Ginger
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:22 pm: [report]
I’m so glad I saw this AFTER my annual today. Otherwise I would have been freaking out during the whole thing, waiting for the doctor to tell me it’s all coming out.
Amelia McDonell-Parry
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:25 pm: [report]
I seriously just shed a tear.
Mariabeth67
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:37 pm: [report]
She bled for 15 weeks straight… And then she noticed things felt weird for a YEAR?! I would’ve gotten that checked out WAY sooner than that…
ladyredlocks
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:37 pm: [report]
After reading the full article, I’m seriously curious to know why her husband didn’t say or do anything about this!!! They obviously weren’t having sex, but considering another child. I mean, how could she put off seeing a doctor for years? This is effed!
Moonspinner
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:43 pm: [report]
Yes, not only is prolapse common, but epidemic in the postpartum population. What is truly shocking is that Allison very likely could have healed entirely from her ordeal by learning about and returning to her natural pelvic organ support system. Hysterectomy removes the hub of the wheel of pelvic organ support and sets women up to be surgically managed for prolapse and incontinence throughout their lifetime. If a woman has her uterus she can likely reduce the symptoms of prolapse enough to live a completely normal and functional life. Women the world over are learning to live well with prolapse without resorting to destructive surgery. Christine Kent, Whole Woman Inc.
spatula
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:44 pm: [report]
Holy f*cking crap. I mean, oh my God.
LovelyLarry
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:55 pm: [report]
That’s why all ladies should be doing their Kegels on a regular basis!
Kati-Anne
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:55 pm: [report]
Back when I was a teenager and working at a vet clinic there was a dog that had recently given birth who came in with a prolapsed vagina and I was like “Uhh… can this happen to humans?” and the vet replied “It sure can! Now let’s shove that vagina back up into that doggy’s abdomen!” *shudder*
fallonthecity
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 01:55 pm: [report]
This happens to pregnant cows fairly often. :\ I can’t believe she waited a YEAR to see a doctor!
spatula
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 02:03 pm: [report]
@Kati-Anne: Your post just made me laugh SO HARD.
equnsuocha
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 02:03 pm: [report]
This happened to my mother, it was horrible but at least she was past child bearing age. Unfortunately most of her issues were from her @ss and she was at the age where she felt she needed to share it with my brother and I everytime we spoke. >.<
SCRMOM
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 02:08 pm: [report]
This is another reason why I’m glad that I had all c-sections.*
* - While I’m saying this sarcastically , I do notice that my friends with pelvic floor dysfunctions are those who had vaginal births. I don’t believe there has been any long-term scientific studies on this, though.
TinaLish
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 02:16 pm: [report]
... I’m literally at a loss for words.
jeccabean
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 02:29 pm: [report]
It happens fairly often in older women. It can also happen to the rectum as well. It is from years of pressure on the pelvic floor. It makes you want to do your kegels after youv’e seen one!
frostie
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 02:33 pm: [report]
Yet another thing to add to my ‘Things About Childbirth That Make Me Want To Curl Up Into A Little Ball’ list.
OK, confession time. When I was 3-4 years old, that happened to my butt. I was one of those kids that was irrationally afraid to poop so one thing lead to another and I ended up in hospital. I don’t remember anything except a whole lot of pain and then a doctor giving me an ice lolly for being such a good girl. Everything’s fine now but I have never and will never tell anyone (I mean, apart from anonymously) because I can’t think of anything more embarrassing than pooping your butt inside out.
Sorry for ruining your dinner everyone.
Shosanna
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 02:38 pm: [report]
I feel like I should start an educational campaign about this issue.
Excuse me whilst I gather all my girlfriends for a pow-wow over wine and cheese. “By the way, did you know your vagina can fall out? Make sure to check monthly.”
*cue NBC “The More You Know” shooting star*
silvergurl
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 02:43 pm: [report]
omg. i feel squeamish. poor woman. i hope she recovers soon…
workerbee
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 02:44 pm: [report]
I’ve heard of this before. I think there was an episode of Oprah on it last year. Either way, went I went in for my annual last year, I made sure to ask the doctor if everything felt in place. He assured it was and said it’s more of an issue after a few kids. These articles are good though since they remind me to do kegels.
candyapples
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 03:15 pm: [report]
I am doin kegels RIGHT NOW!
kpazjeepin
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 03:22 pm: [report]
@fallonthecity: You took the words right out of my mouth..being a farm kid and all, this is very common in cows that give birth, the ones I’ve witnessed gave birth to VERY large calves, and we couldn’t save the mommas :(
Poor girl..at least she made it through it with her who-ha (kind of) intact!
Bean's Girl
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 03:34 pm: [report]
What does “perfet-looking labia” look like I wonder….
occumb
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 03:47 pm: [report]
Both my aunt and my grandmother have this, and have had it since the birth of their children. They opted not to have surgeries to fix it, and operate pretty normally as far as I know. However, I know it can cause frequent urinary tract infections.
Fiend
wrote on November 6 2009 @ 11:01 pm: [report]
I can’t believe so many women haven’t heard of this before!
Pelvic floor exercises are really important - something we should all remember to do frequently.
christinax4
wrote on November 7 2009 @ 01:18 am: [report]
yeah bean’s girl i was wondering that myself…not a cool choice of words
stormygirl
wrote on November 7 2009 @ 04:10 am: [report]
Oh..no! Great, something else to worry about as I get older.something either falling out, malfunctioning, not working properly, out of place,etc. If that was me I wouldn’t have sat there bleeding for 15 weeks(gasp!!!) Man, the stuff we women have to go through just to give birth.:O
loveitlala
wrote on November 7 2009 @ 08:28 am: [report]
OMG this is so common in older ladies there is no way the doctor could ever be surprised. And this is soooo over sensualized—multiple surgeries? I don’t think so, one is enough.
prettytrixy
wrote on November 7 2009 @ 10:02 am: [report]
wish hadn’t read at all ,am already terrified!
LostInStars
wrote on November 7 2009 @ 01:43 pm: [report]
Whimper…
verynervous
wrote on November 7 2009 @ 04:49 pm: [report]
beansgirls and christinax4 - maybe a better word would have been….textbook?
i know this because i have a textbook cervix. am i the only one getting weird compliments from my gyn??
develange
wrote on November 7 2009 @ 05:39 pm: [report]
thirteen-year-old labia? creepy.
Things to avoid : getting pregnant and becoming elderly. Save the vaginas.
H. Blue
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 10:01 am: [report]
just another reason for me NOT to ever have a baby.
autumn_dust
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 11:00 am: [report]
WHY. :(.
jojo32
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 12:01 pm: [report]
@ Verynervous…when I was getting ready to deliver my daughter, the doc (who was not my regular doctor that did all of my previous exams, of course) looked up there and said “That’s a beautiful cervix.” Ummmm…thanks?
Frederica Bimble
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 12:25 pm: [report]
The question is: Did You Know Your Vagina Can Fall Out Of Your Body?
The answer is: Yes, I did know that.
Steph9668
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 02:10 pm: [report]
I have heard of this before… and that it happens to older women more often than younger women. But I am still just as horrified now as the first time I learned about it.
impoddity
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 04:49 pm: [report]
I went for a sonogram and my GYN told me I have a slightly prolapsed uterus. This news was followed by a week’s worth of nightmares about my uterus falling out through my vagina.
I have an appt tomorrow in fact, and we’re going to have a nice heart-to-heart about this.
And I’m going to make a bumper sticker that reads: SAVE THE UTERUSES!!
spatula
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 04:52 pm: [report]
@impoddity: I’m in. But wouldnt the be uteri?
impoddity
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 05:23 pm: [report]
@spatula: AHA!! I did a check for the spelling; it can go either way. I think ‘uteruses’ would be easier for people to recognise immediately.
Revolutionary Girl
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 07:50 pm: [report]
Oh hell no! I can’t even say anything else…
whatshesays
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 09:37 pm: [report]
kegelkegelkegelkegelkegelkegel…
OutOfLine
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 10:26 pm: [report]
I once had my gyno tell me i had a nice small uterus. What does that even mean?!
theattack
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 10:42 pm: [report]
@verynerous & jojo: My gyno told me I have a beautiful cervix as well. haha Glad to know I’m not the only one.
ilcob
wrote on November 9 2009 @ 10:59 pm: [report]
I hadn’t heard of this until it happened to my sister! Her doctor described it as “quite common.” HA!
jadine
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 12:10 am: [report]
Aaahhhhhh!!!!!
roastchicken
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 12:28 am: [report]
It mostly happens to women who’ve given birth vaginally. It happens to women of childbearing age too, not just older women. I see these types of vaginal repairs at work in the O.R.
Def made me decide to have c-sections when I do decide to have a kid.
It’s funny because I just had this conversation with a Urologist the other day during surgery about deciding to have my future kids by cesarean. I see the affects that childbirth has on women’s lady parts, and I asked him if he thought women would still chose to have a vaginal birth if they knew what it actually does to our bits down there. He thought about it, and said that maybe it would scare them out of it if they knew.
Knowledge is power!!
Gloom
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 12:37 am: [report]
Horrifying. Ugh.
amber
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 03:25 am: [report]
Frightening, yes, but not something I will be putting a lot of worry into. I think the most important thing here is the passing on of knowledge. I’ve heard of this, mostly because I knew of someone who had this happen to their rectum and naturally conversations came up and there we were talking about the vagina. Most women don’t know about this, which is rather sad because naturally women want to have children.
And after reading the comments I’m saddened that I’ve never been told by my gyno that I have a beautiful cervix. Ladies, what is your secret?
purplerose
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 04:16 pm: [report]
oh boy, this brings back memories! I remember when I was in grade 12 (about 3 years ago) I was such a hypochondriac. I thought I had a prolapsed bladder or prolapsed uterus! I obsessed over it 24/7 and even went to the doctors got blood tests and urine tests. There was nothing wrong with me! Yet I insisted that there was and continued to obsess over it, then had an ultra sound which I nearly peed my pants it hurt so bad. Never drink as much water as they tell you to!!
But anyways, I hope I neveerrr everrrr get this!
impoddity
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 09:00 pm: [report]
My GYN advised me to have a c-section if I ever decide to have children. “Everyone gets one anyway.” ... and yet again, I am told to “go along with the crowd” :/
ilcob
wrote on November 10 2009 @ 09:20 pm: [report]
The oOther issue is women who have had hysterectomies are more prone. My sister had this “all my stuff is falling out” syndrome-); and she had had a hysterectomy at a very young age due to complications. She also helped 3 people move house in a 6 month period of time, and all the bending and heavy liftig started a sort of chain reaction.
sparklestar
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 11:31 am: [report]
I found out about this a while ago when the doctor said I have a “low cervix”... yep, apparently your cervix can come out of your vagina.
Great.
roastchicken
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 07:07 pm: [report]
My GYN told me, about 5 years ago, that my pelvis is too small to have a vaginal birth. So I don’t have much of a choice, but if I did, I still wouldn’t chose to have a vag birth.
@ impoddity: You don’t have to go along with the crowd. It’s your body, and your choice about how you deliver. No one else has to live with the aftereffects of your giving birth except you
Oh, and your hubby.
Ghirardelli
wrote on November 11 2009 @ 09:28 pm: [report]
Oh my god. I could have gone my whole life peacefully without hearing about this!
Meg
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 11:16 am: [report]
Work in a nursing home or hospital and you’ll learn that this isn’t a rare occurrence at all.
It actually happened to my dog a few years ago. Seems hormones can aggravate or even cause the prolapse, so having kids makes this more likely to happen when you’re younger. So I’ll skip that trauma and skip having a bunch of kids.
But most women experience this when they are older and the elasticity of skin and tissue is not what it used to be.
cooldad
wrote on November 13 2009 @ 05:23 pm: [report]
Thinking of this could be added to the list of things to think about when you want to get rid of your hard-on (eg, lying on your stomach at the nude beach)
foxxxyrae
wrote on November 16 2009 @ 02:19 pm: [report]
that is…..terrifying lol
BiancaDivine
wrote on November 16 2009 @ 03:39 pm: [report]
I can’t believe this can actually happen.
Strike that: I heretofore couldn’t believe it, but now I do, and am utterly horrified.