HANGING by a THREAD

They told you it was normal. They told you to give it time. They told you this was just part of being a woman. They were wrong. Pelvic organ prolapse affects up to one in three women — yet most have never heard of it until it happens to them. It is one of the most common and least talked-about women's health conditions in the world, hidden behind embarrassment, normalised by a healthcare system that has historically underestimated women's pain, and endured in silence by millions. Hanging by a Thread is the book that changes that conversation. Drawing on her own experience of prolapse, endometriosis, infertility, IVF, and years of navigating a system that too often dismissed her concerns, author Ange Antony blends personal memoir with medical research, women's stories, and unflinching systemic critique to create a book that is as validating as it is informative. Inside you will find: A compassionate and honest account of what pelvic organ prolapse actually feels like to live with — the physical symptoms, the emotional weight, and the impact on identity, relationships, and intimacy that no one prepares you for. A clear explanation of why prolapse happens, what the different types mean, and why symptom severity does not always match clinical staging. A thorough exploration of every treatment option — from pelvic floor physiotherapy and pessaries through to surgery — including what questions to ask before making any decision. An unflinching look at the gender pain gap, medical misogyny, and the research gaps that have left women's health conditions underfunded and under-discussed for generations. Practical guidance on prevention, postnatal recovery, ageing, menopause, and what to do when conservative management is no longer enough. The conversation around intimacy, body image, and sexual confidence that most books in this space are too polite to have properly. And a community waiting for you on the other side. This is not just a book about prolapse. It is about your right to be believed. Your right to answers. And your right to live your life fully — without apology, without shame, and without being told to simply get on with it. You are not imagining it. You are not alone. And this book was written for you.