Prolapse

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...

Pelvic organ prolapses are not life threatening. While it's true that pelvic organ prolapses can become serious if left to progress, this isn't to say that with the correct treatment and some simple lifestyle changes, you can't get back to feeling yourself again.

Performing regular pelvic floor / Kegel exercises and watching what you eat can make a world of difference to those dealing with prolapse.

The most important this to remember is that you're not alone, many women (not forgetting men) can experience some form of pelvic organ prolapse during their lifetime. For first-hand accounts of dealing with these issues take a look at our Success Stories where people have been brave enough to share their experience to help you understand the steps to recovery.

Tips to Make Life with a Prolapse Easier

There are numerous steps you can take to make life easier if you're suffering from a pelvic organ...

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...