About pelvic organ prolapse

This is a condition where one or more organs normally supported by the pelvic floor muscles, namely the bladder, bowel, rectum, urethra, uterus and vagina, herniate or protrude outside the body.
Pelvic organ prolapse is most often linked to strain during childbirth. Normally, the pelvic organs are kept in place by the muscles and tissues in the lower belly. However, during childbirth, these muscles can get weak or stretched and if they do not recover, they will become unable to support the pelvic organs. While older women are more likely to have pelvic organ prolapse, it is also known to run in families.
A prolapse can be fairly mild but it can also become serious. Common symptoms include lower back pain, a sensation of ‘something falling out’, stress incontinence, constipation or painful sex.
In cases where symptoms are mild, doctors will usually recommend keeping to a healthy weight, doing exercises to strengthen pelvic muscles and avoiding lifting heavy objects.
In serious cases, surgery involving the repair of muscular tissues supporting the affected pelvic organs is performed. Where recurrence or a very bad prolapse occurs, a mesh can be used to replace the weak tissue.