Symptoms, Causes and Diagnosis

The word prolapse means “to fall out of place" and is used to describe the action of an organ drooping or sagging and slipping out of its natural place. A pelvic organ prolapse can affect any organ within the pelvic area. In women this includes the uterus, vagina, small bowel, rectum, bladder and urethra.

There are four main stages of a pelvic organ prolapse, as 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. Your prolapse can get worse throughout the day or after you have been on your feet after a long time. This will be taken into consideration by your doctor as they grade your prolapse.

Any pelvic organ can prolapse, usually into the vagina (if the vagina prolapses in on itself, it's usually as a result of another organ prolapsing first and taking the vagina with it). This is why a pelvic organ prolapse is often also referred...

Medically reviewed by Amanda Savage, edited 20/07/2023

What Can Cause a Prolapse at a Young Age?

Prolapse is a common condition affecting 6% of women under 30, 30% of women age 51-59 years and 50% of women over 80.

Prolapse is when one or more of your pelvic organs shift out of place.

Sometimes only a little movement inside can cause a lot of bothersome symptoms, yet other women can see and feel a large bulge or protrusion without any bother.

It is a complicated condition and you will need advice from your GP or a specialist physiotherapist to understand fully what is going on for you.

The primary cause of prolapse is a change in the support structures of the organs. This includes their ligament and fascial attachments as well as the pelvic floor muscles supporting them from below...

Medically reviewed by Amanda Savage, edited 20/07/2023

What Types of Prolapse are Possible After Childbirth?

It’s thought that around half of all mothers will develop prolapse symptoms at some point following childbirth. For some, it happens straight away, for others it doesn’t happen until they reach menopause.

Prolapse is when one or more of your pelvic organs shift out of place. Sometimes only a little movement inside can cause a lot of bothersome symptoms, yet other women can see and feel a large bulge or protrusion without any bother.

It is a complicated condition and you will need advice from your GP or a specialist physiotherapist to understand fully what is going on for you.

If a Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) occurs as a result of childbirth, it is often known as a postpartum...

What Are the Causes & Symptoms of a Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

A pelvic organ prolapse (POP) occurs when the muscular pelvic floor weakens to the extent that it can no longer support the pelvic organs. It allows the pelvic organs to move away from their usual positions and bulge (prolapse) sometimes painfully into the vagina or rectum. Some prolapses can begin so minor, that they are only recognised and diagnosed through a routine examination such as a smear test. However, they can become so severe that they permanently protrude from the body and lead to incontinence, bleeding and severe pain. It is therefore essential to maintain strength in your pelvic floor, through daily pelvic floor exercises, and be aware of any changes in your body that may suggest an early stage of a prolapse forming.

As with most medical problems, it’s important not to put off treatment. Allowing your prolapse to go untreated for a long period of time leads to weakened pelvic...

Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments available for each type of prolapse. As well as how best to prevent one from happening to you. Follow the links below for more information.

Contents

• Types of Prolapse
• Vaginal Prolapse - where the pelvic organs, such as the uterus, rectum, bladder, urethra, small bowel, or even the vagina itself, fall out of their normal position.
• Uterine Prolapse - where the uterus droops into the vaginal space or, in advanced cases, out of the vagina.
• Vaginal Vault Prolapse - where the top of the vagina descends into the vagina canal and can even become visible outside of the vagina.
• Bladder...