Understanding the Different Types of Prolapse

Types of Prolapse

A prolapse happens when one or more pelvic organs shift down from their normal position due to weakness or damage in the pelvic floor muscles and supportive tissues. There are several different types of prolapse, depending on which pelvic organ is affected, including the bladder, bowel, uterus, or vaginal walls.

Because many prolapse terms sound similar and involve internal parts of the body you can’t easily see or feel, understanding the different types of prolapse can sometimes feel confusing. This guide is here to help explain the most common types of prolapse, their symptoms, and the pelvic floor support available.

At Kegel8, we specialise in pelvic floor health and provide expert information, pelvic floor rehabilitation advice, and support for women living with prolapse. We also offer guidance on strengthening and supporting the pelvic floor to help manage symptoms and reduce further pelvic floor weakness over time.

While prolapse can affect both men and women, several forms of pelvic organ prolapse are unique to women due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and female pelvic anatomy. In this guide, we’ll mainly focus on the different types of prolapse that commonly affect women.

What Is a Prolapse?

A pelvic organ prolapse (POP) happens when one or more pelvic organs — such as the bladder, uterus, bowel, or vaginal walls — move down from their usual position due to weakness in the pelvic floor muscles and supportive tissues.

Your pelvic floor acts like a supportive hammock across the base of your pelvis, helping to hold your pelvic organs in place. Over time, factors such as pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, ageing, heavy lifting, chronic coughing, or repeated straining can weaken these muscles and tissues, reducing the support available to the pelvic organs.

When this support weakens, the pelvic organs can begin to press down into the vagina. Symptoms of prolapse  include heaviness, pressure, discomfort, bladder leaks, bowel changes, or the sensation of “something coming down.” In some cases, more than one type of prolapse can occur at the same time because the pelvic organs naturally support each other.

Prolapse Is More Common Than Many Women Realise

If you’ve been diagnosed with a prolapse, it’s important to know you are not alone. Pelvic floor conditions are extremely common, although many women feel too embarrassed or uncomfortable to talk about them openly.

Research suggests that up to 1 in 3 women will experience a pelvic floor disorder during their lifetime, and vaginal prolapse becomes increasingly common with age, particularly after menopause. While prolapse symptoms can feel worrying or upsetting, support and treatment options are available, and many women successfully manage their symptoms and continue to live active, confident lives.

Can a Prolapse Be Treated?

Although a prolapse is not usually life-threatening, it can affect comfort, confidence, bladder and bowel function, exercise, intimacy, and overall quality of life if symptoms are left unmanaged.

The good news is that many mild and moderate prolapses can often be improved or successfully managed with pelvic floor rehabilitation, lifestyle changes, vaginal pessaries, support garments, and pelvic floor exercises. In some cases, prolapse surgery may also be recommended.

At Kegel8, we understand how personal and emotional pelvic floor symptoms can feel. That’s why we’re here to provide trusted pelvic floor advice, rehabilitation support, and products designed to help you feel stronger, more supported, and more confident in your body again.

If you think you may have symptoms of a prolapse, it’s important to speak with your GP or pelvic health specialist. Seeking help early can help support your long-term pelvic floor health and prevent symptoms from worsening over time.

What are the different types of prolapse? 

Take a look at our guides to learn more about the most common types of prolapse a women can experience as a result of a weakened pelvic floor. There are multiple types of vaginal prolapse, as well as types of prolapse that affect the rectum and bladder, which can also affect men. Each article contains details of the symptoms, a range of preventative measures and what treatment options are available:

Vaginal prolapse or Apical Prolapse

A vaginal prolapse is when the vagina itself, falls out of its normal position. It can droop down until it protrudes from the body. It is often followed by further pelvic organ prolapses.

Vaginal vault prolapse

A vaginal vault prolapse is experienced when the top part of the vaginal wall loses its strength and droops downwards into the vaginal canal. 72% of women suffering from a vaginal vault prolapse suffer further pelvic organ prolapses.

Bladder prolapse

A bladder prolapse is the drooping of the bladder into the front, anterior wall, of the vagina. As such, it can only occur in women. The three main types of bladder prolapse are cystocele, urethrocele and cystourethrocele.

Cystocele or Front Wall Prolpase

Front (anterior) wall prolapse (previously cystocele, urethrocele) The most prevalent form of prolapse; this is where the bladder drops downwards onto the front, anterior wall, of the vagina.

Urethrocele or Front Wall Prolpase

A type of bladder prolapse, a urethrocele is the prolapse of the urethra (tube that takes urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) into the vagina. This is also referred to as a Front Wall Prolpase, although it is not very common.

Uterine prolapse or Apical Prolapse fig 3

Apical Prolapse (previously uterine or cervix prolapse).  A uterine prolapse is the name for when the uterus weakens and bulges into the vaginal space, and in later stages protrudes outside the vagina. It is commonly followed by cystocele and rectocele prolapses due to the loss of support the uterus naturally provides.

Enterocele

An enterocele is the prolapse of the small bowel (small intestine) into the upper wall of the vagina.

Rectal prolapse or Back Wall Prolpase

A rectal prolapse or back wall (posterior) prolapse can occur in men and women of all ages. It is the name for the prolapse where the rectum, and rectal tissue, droops and protrudes visibly from the anus either partially or completely. Rectal prolapse can feel like haemorrhoids.

Rectocele 

Similarly to a rectal prolapse, a rectocele involves the weakening of the rectum and rectal tissue. A rectocele, however, can only occur in women as is in this condition the rectum bulges internally into the vagina, and in severe cases, protrudes out of the vaginal opening.

Perineal Descent

Perineal descent, or descending perineum syndrome, is when the perineum (the area between the anus and the scrotum/vulva) bulges down and prolapses below the bony outlet of the pelvis.

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Managing a Prolapse and Supporting Your Pelvic Floor

If you’re reading this page because you’ve been diagnosed with a prolapse — or think you may have one — it’s important to know that support is available and there are many positive steps you can take to help manage the symptoms of prolapse and protect your long-term pelvic floor health.

While pelvic floor weakness can develop over time through pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, ageing, heavy lifting, or chronic straining, strengthening and supporting the pelvic floor can often help improve comfort, bladder control, confidence, and everyday quality of life.

Pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) are one of the most effective ways to support a prolapse and help prevent symptoms from worsening. Regular pelvic floor rehabilitation can help improve muscle strength, support the pelvic organs more effectively, and reduce feelings of heaviness or pressure.

At Kegel8, we’re passionate about helping women understand and support their pelvic floor health with expert advice, pelvic floor rehabilitation, vaginal pessaries, support garments, and pelvic floor toners designed to help strengthen and support the pelvic floor safely and effectively.

Medical-grade devices such as the Kegel8 Ultra 20 Electronic Pelvic Floor Toner are designed specifically for safe and effective at-home pelvic floor rehabilitation. As a CE-marked medical device manufactured in line with MDR (Medical Device Regulation) standards, the Kegel8 Ultra 20 has been developed to support women experiencing bladder weakness, postpartum pelvic floor recovery, and menopause-related pelvic floor symptoms.

Sources

Farag, K. A. Uzoma, A. (2009) Obstetrics and Gynecology International. Vaginal Vault Prolapse. [online] 275621, p1-9. [viewed 11/05/2026]. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2778877/

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. (Updated May 2022). Information for you, Pelvic organ prolapse [online] Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2013 [viewed 11/05/2026]. Available from: https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/pelvic-organ-prolapse/

National Library of Medicine (2022). Global burden and trends of pelvic organ prolapse associated with aging women: An observational trend study from 1990 to 2019 [viewed 11/05/2026]. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9521163/

Women's Health Concern. (2021, reviewed 2024). Prolapse: Uterine and vaginal [online] Women's Health Concern, 2015 [viewed 11/05/2026]. Available from: https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/21-WHC-FACTSHEET-Prolapse-NOV2022-B.pdf