Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support - APOPS

04/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/sherrie.palm/videos/2624100157983630

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04/03/2026

TGIF

04/02/2026

Women who use wheelchairs are rarely a part of studies, one of the many blind spots in the POP space.

These women can experience complex, multi-system pelvic floor disorders driven by neurologic and biomechanical factors, yet they remain largely excluded from pelvic health research, clinical guidelines, and device innovation.

We have so much more work to do.

04/01/2026

Zero doubt perineal tears need to be appropriately assessed and repaired properly post birthing. Are cases of Obstetric a**l sphincter injuries (OASIS) increasing or are medical systems getting better at catching and coding them properly? This is such an important quality of life concern for women birthing that rarely sees the light of day.

https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/62/3/433

03/31/2026

There's nothing normal about internal organs bulging out of the va**na. Pelvic organ prolapse may reduce to some degree a couple months post childbirth but it does not "heal itself".

We can't excel in any field of practice unless we have access to appropriate and sufficient training.

Adjusting pelvic organ prolapse curriculum provided within the diagnostic fields of practice servicing routine pelvic exams is critical to enable early POP diagnosis and referral to subspecialists for nonsurgical or surgical treatment. If we aren't teaching POP to those who provide basic screenings, the system is failing to address patient need.

03/30/2026

Every spring my gram visits me from the "other side", spreading wild flowers hither and yon across my walk paths, renewing my faith in her support that women's health is and will continue to move forward. For years, I thought these purple wildflower bloom were violets. I was wrong.

Siberian Squill is more than just a pretty flower; it embodies renewal and hope. Studies show that the color purple is deeply connected to emotions, intuition, and physical reactions. I now understand why I am so pulled toward their beauty given the needs of the women APOPS serves.

Some days I need a recharge; it's been a long 16 years banging the drum. Wandering across this whisper of spring has recharged my battery.

03/30/2026

Out of a drawer full of devices I've put through test mode, Leva has been my favorite for years. I've always paid attention to back door contraction vs va**nal zone and felt the device would have value for both urinary and f***l incontinence concerns, but it was only FDA approved for urinary so marketed as such. F***l incontinence is so underacknowledged and under-diagnosed. I am thrilled to see this study moving that needle forward. Women all too often suffer in silence.

Go Leva Pelvic Health System, advancing women's health and health empowerment!

https://journals.lww.com/dcrjournal/abstract/9900/a_digital_therapeutic_pelvic_health_system.1217.aspx

03/30/2026

The nonprofit sector works tirelessly to increase awareness of stigmatized health conditions. I tip my hat is to every nonprofit fighting the good fight to address the needs of the people we serve.

Never underestimate the value of GRASSROOTS patient energy in the women's health nonprofit sector. It reaches far beyond awareness. Patient Voice helps reframe best practice, policy, and so much more.

Patient Voice identifies gaps clinical systems overlook.

Patient Voice clarifies quality-of-life issues.

Patient Voice introduces stigmatized conditions into public conversation.

Patient Voice speaks in non-medical language for easy lay understanding.

Patient Voice provides emotional validation (“you’re not alone”).

Patient voice in not influenced by institutional bias.

From my heart to the hearts of APOPS following THANK YOU.

Every Voice Matters!

03/27/2026

Thank you Robin Fisher Roffer for the eyes wide open conversation we had on your Plenty of Husbands Podcast. Had a great time opening up the closet door to dissect hormone value, navigating intimacy in our stellar mature years, and sharing info side-by-side!

Every Voice Matters!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tqZAIYxW_pEm6iYcTGh9P6k2GAtzkcTl/view?ts=69c6dca4

03/26/2026

No one likes pelvic exams or medical screenings that mess with our most personal and intimate spaces. Uncomfortable. Awkward. Necessary.

Immersion therapy makes sense for high anxiety patients. If something as simple as watching something on a screen to distract the brain makes it easier for patients to tolerate and practitioners to get the job done, I can't imagine a reason why this isn't the new norm.

The comment on military sexual trauma got my attention too, so did a micro dive. 38-44% of women in military report sexual trauma. 10% sexual assault. Very unsettling numbers.

https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/fulltext/2026/04001/immersive_therapy_for_anxiety_reduction_during.172.aspx

03/25/2026

The cultural silence encasing has been rampant for nearly 4,000 years (Kahun Gynaecological Papyrus).

We do all kinds of intimate things with our hands-they are not stigmatized.

We see all kinds of enticing things with our eyes-they are not stigmatized.

We think all kinds of alluring thoughts with our brains-they are not stigmatized.

Give va**na's a break. They are the portal of life and love.