Understanding the Stages of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse is a common pelvic floor condition that affects many women, particularly after pregnancy and childbirth, during menopause and as part of the natural ageing process. Hormonal changes, weakened pelvic floor muscles and everyday strain can all contribute to prolapse symptoms developing over time.

The good news is that recognising the early signs of prolapse and supporting your pelvic floor early can make a significant difference. Understanding the symptoms and stages of prolapse can help you take proactive steps to strengthen your pelvic floor, manage symptoms and support your long-term pelvic health.

What is a pelvic organ prolapse?

A pelvic organ prolapse is the term used to describe the action of an organ drooping, or sagging, or and slipping out of its natural place within your pelvic region. In women, this includes the uterus, vagina, small bowel, rectum, bladder, and urethra, and it often requires surgery to lift and support the organ back into place.

However, not all pelvic organ prolapses are the same, and a variety of different grades of prolapse are used to define how serious a prolapse may be, and therefore what actions are required to fix it.

Are there different grades of prolapse?

Generally speaking, there are four main stages of pelvic organ prolapse, all graded using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification System (POP-Q). These start from a minor movement of the organ to a complete prolapse where the organ is permanently protruding from the body.

In essence, this means that the POP-Q levels for uterine prolapse stages and bladder prolapse stages are much the same, though the physical effects of the prolapses may differ due to organ location, size, and shape.

Unfortunately, any pelvic organ can be subject to prolapse, usually into the vagina. Whereas if the vagina prolapses in on itself, it's usually a result of another organ prolapsing first and taking the vagina with it.

This is why a pelvic organ prolapse is often also referred to as a vaginal prolapse. You can read more about each type of possible pelvic organ prolapse on our Types of Prolapse page.

How do I reduce the chance of a pelvic organ prolapse?

Although a prolapse is shocking and upsetting for any woman to experience, the good news is that there is plenty you can do to strengthen your pelvic floor and reduce the likelihood that you will experience any of the pelvic organ prolapse stages we’ve mentioned above.

In our opinion, the best way to look after your pelvic floor muscles is to make sure you perform pelvic floor/Kegel exercises daily. These exercises are simple to carry out and can be done on the way to work, at your desk or when relaxing on the sofa. And the beauty is, no one will know you’re doing them!

For even more targeted pelvic floor rehabilitation, many women choose to use an electronic pelvic floor exerciser such as Kegel8. Designed specifically to help strengthen weakened pelvic floor muscles, Kegel8 includes dedicated pelvic organ prolapse programmes to help support vaginal prolapse symptoms and reduce the risk of symptoms worsening over time.

Regular pelvic floor exercise and NMES pelvic floor stimulation can help improve pelvic support, bladder control and muscle tone, particularly during the early stages of prolapse. Supporting your pelvic floor consistently may help slow prolapse progression, reduce symptoms and improve long-term pelvic health and confidence.

Why Are Pelvic Floor Exercises Important?

Looking after your pelvic floor muscles is important at every stage of life. Whether you are planning a family, recovering after childbirth, managing menopause or simply wanting to protect your long-term pelvic health, a strong pelvic floor plays a vital role in supporting your bladder, bowel and pelvic organs.

Pregnancy, childbirth, ageing, menopause, heavy lifting and chronic straining can all weaken the pelvic floor over time. In fact, pelvic organ prolapse is extremely common, particularly after childbirth, and women who experience one type of prolapse may be at greater risk of developing additional pelvic floor problems later in life.

Regular pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen and support the pelvic floor muscles, improving bladder control, pelvic support and overall confidence. Starting pelvic floor training early may also help reduce the risk of prolapse symptoms developing or worsening in the future.

For women who struggle to perform Kegel exercises correctly, pelvic floor exercisers such as Kegel8 can help guide effective pelvic floor contractions and support safe, consistent pelvic floor rehabilitation from home.

Alleviate the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse & strengthen the pelvic floor in just 12 weeks, with the help of the Kegel8 Ultra 20 & Amanda Savage!

Amanda Savage is one of the UK’s leading specialist pelvic floor and women’s health physiotherapists, who has worked in the field for over 20 years offering supervised pelvic floor muscle training and support for the recovery of pelvic organ prolapses, incontinence and pelvic surgeries. With post-graduate qualifications, including a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge, she has also gained full membership of the Professional Network of Pelvic, Obstetric & Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP). As a Kegel8 ambassador, Amanda Savage has worked alongside us for many years in the development of our best-selling device, the Kegel8 Ultra 20 V2 Electronic Pelvic Toner, to ensure its efficacy. In addition, she has been integral to ensuring all supporting information and instructions are medically accurate so that the device is used correctly/effectively, and treatment is tailored to the specific condition of the user.

Comes complete with an easy exercise plan, created by Amanda Savage, to get results in 12 weeks!