/ Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse happens when the muscles in your pelvis weaken, letting the bladder, urethra, uterus or rectum slip down into the vagina. It’s common, but usually isn’t dangerous. You can have it for years without problems.

Symptoms

Talk to your doctor if you experience symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse, such as:

Incontinence (difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels)
Lower back pain
Tissue you can see or feel coming out of your vagina

Trouble wearing a tampon (or feeling like it’s always half in and half out)
Vaginal irritation, pressure or pain, especially during sex

Types of prolapse

Your doctor may give you a diagnosis of:

Bladder prolapse (cystocele) or urethral prolapse (urethrocele) – The front of the vagina sags downward or outward, allowing the bladder or urethra to drop from its normal position.
Enterocele – Support to the top of the vagina weakens, letting the small intestine bulge into the vagina.
Rectocele – The rectum bulges upward into the vagina because of a weakened lower vaginal wall and perineum (area of the pelvic floor between the vagina and the anus).

Uterine prolapse – Support for the uterus and upper vagina weakens, allowing the uterus to slide down into the vagina.
Vaginal vault prolapse – Upper support of the vagina weakens after a hysterectomy, allowing the vaginal walls to sag into the vagina.

The stage, or severity, is on a scale of 0 (no prolapse) to 4 (total prolapse).