Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the muscles and connective tissues of the pelvic floor weaken, allowing organs such as the bladder, uterus, or rectum to shift downward into the vaginal canal.
According to the Office on Women’s Health, pelvic floor disorders affect about one in five women in the United States. It often develops after childbirth, during menopause, following surgery, or as part of aging. Other risk factors include chronic constipation, declining estrogen, and repeated heavy lifting.
Prolapse can be significantly uncomfortable. It may impact your ability to exercise, be intimate, and feel comfortable in your own body. Fortunately, there are treatments for pelvic organ prolapse. This page will help you understand what’s happening, recognize the symptoms of prolapse, and learn about effective pelvic floor support options.
Types of Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Your pelvic floor acts like a hammock, holding your organs in place. When the pelvic floor weakens, one or more organs can shift.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) explains that the type of vaginal prolapse depends on which organ is affected:
- Cystocele (bladder prolapse): The bladder drops against the front vaginal wall. This is the most common type.
- Uterine prolapse (prolapsed womb): The uterus descends into or beyond the vaginal canal.
- Rectocele: The rectum bulges into the back vaginal wall.
- Enterocele: The small intestine pushes against the upper vagina, often after a hysterectomy.
It is possible to experience multiple types of pelvic organ prolapse at once.
Signs and Symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Many people with mild vaginal prolapse have no noticeable prolapse symptoms. But as the condition progresses, you might experience:
- Pelvic pressure or heaviness, especially after standing
- A sensation of bulging or fullness in the vagina
- Discomfort or pain during sex
- Bladder leakage when coughing, sneezing, or exercising
- A feeling of something “falling down”
- Difficulty fully emptying the bladder or bowels
While prolapse is not a medical emergency, it still should be taken seriously, as it can have a significant effect on your quality of life.
If you notice prolapse symptoms, consult a healthcare provider or pelvic floor physical therapist for evaluation.
Explore Supportive Products for Pelvic Health
Pelvic floor exercises can be a valuable part of treatment, but they are often oversimplified as just doing Kegels. In reality, pelvic floor work is about much more than muscle contraction. It involves awareness, coordination, strength, and the ability to release, because some women need support building function while others need to reduce the tension and guarding that contribute to pain. Kegel devices can be helpful when they offer feedback and improve muscle awareness, but they are not appropriate for every woman, especially when pelvic pain or painful intercourse is part of the clinical picture. A more effective approach considers how the pelvic floor, breath, nervous system, and pain response work together so treatment improves function without adding more tension to an already sensitized system.
Considering investing in pelvic floor therapy tools? Here’s where to start.
Pelvic Floor Exercisers & Kegel Devices
Designed for pelvic floor strengthening, these tools help build the muscles that support bladder control, organ positioning, and sexual function. Many devices are designed to facilitate Kegel exercises.
Pelvic floor exercisers are devices designed to support Kegel training by helping women identify, engage, and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles more effectively. Some work through gentle resistance, such as weighted pelvic floor inserts that the muscles contract to hold in place, while others provide feedback to help women understand whether they are activating the correct muscles. Some devices also use biofeedback or electrical stimulation when muscle awareness or contraction is difficult to achieve. The goal is not simply to squeeze harder, but to improve how the pelvic floor contracts, coordinates, and responds in support of bladder control, pelvic support, and sexual function.
When recommending pelvic floor exercisers, the focus should be on what the body actually needs rather than assuming every woman should start with strengthening. Weighted Kegel trainers or feedback-based devices can be helpful when weakness, poor muscle awareness, or urinary leakage are part of the picture. But when pelvic pain, painful intercourse, or overactive pelvic floor tension are already present, strengthening may not be the first step, because the body may need release, down-training, and improved coordination before adding more contraction work. These devices work best when they are matched to the symptom pattern and used in a way that supports better function, comfort, and connection to the body.
Browse Kegel devices.
Vaginal Dilators
These graduated tools gently stretch and restore comfort to vaginal tissue. They’re often recommended by pelvic floor therapists for those recovering from surgery or experiencing discomfort due to hormonal changes.
Vaginal dilators are therapeutic tools that help the body gradually become more comfortable with penetration over time. They are often used for painful intercourse, pelvic floor dysfunction, vaginismus, menopause-related pain, or tissue changes after surgery or treatment, but they are often misunderstood as being only about stretching. In reality, effective dilator work is about much more than insertion. It is a process of helping the body feel safer, reducing guarding, improving pelvic awareness, and creating the conditions for penetration to feel more manageable and more connected to pleasure.
One of the most important misconceptions I address is the idea that dilator work is simply about inserting the device and increasing the size. The body needs to be prepared to receive, adjust, and respond differently, which is why breathwork, a comfortable environment, and attention to the mind-body connection are such important parts of the process. I teach women to use dilators in a way that helps the nervous system relax, the pelvic floor muscles soften, and the body slowly begins to associate penetration with more safety, movement, and control. The goal is not just to tolerate penetration. It is to help retrain the pain response and build toward partnered intimacy and pleasure in a way that feels more embodied.
Browse vaginal dilators.
Lubricants
Vaginal dryness is common during menopause and postpartum recovery — two life stages closely linked with prolapse. A quality lubricant reduces friction and makes intimacy more comfortable.
Lubrication should be part of intimacy before discomfort starts, not something women wait to use only after pain, dryness, or irritation becomes a problem. I often talk about lubricant as part of sexual wellness and skin care because it helps protect delicate tissue, support comfort, and create a more easeful experience in the body. There is no shame in needing lubricant. Bodies change, needs change, and using more lubricant is simply one way of caring for yourself well. When we normalize lubricant as a tool for comfort, pleasure, and tissue support, it becomes less about fixing a problem and more about honoring the body’s needs.
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Sexual Health Books
Awareness and education can go a long way in promoting pelvic floor health. Our curated selection covers pelvic floor rehabilitation, navigating menopause, reconnecting with intimacy after physical changes, and more.
Sexual health books can be such a powerful part of the journey because they give women a chance to learn, reflect, and explore at their own pace. I love recommending books that make sexual wellness feel more inviting, informative, and even a little fun, especially when they help normalize questions women may have been carrying for years. A great sexual health book can open the door to better body literacy, more confidence, deeper self-understanding, and a healthier relationship with pleasure. Sometimes the right book becomes more than information. It becomes permission to get curious, feel empowered, and connect with yourself in a whole new way.
Browse sexual health books.
Supporting Your Pelvic Floor Long Term
Managing prolapse is possible. Your first port-of-call should be to speak with a healthcare professional, like a urogynecologist, gynecologist, or pelvic floor therapist.
You may benefit from the following evidence-based tips:
- Work with a pelvic floor physical therapist. A specialist can build a personalized rehabilitation plan for you, complete with pelvic floor strengthening exercises and supportive lifestyle changes.
- Practice proper breathing and core engagement. This may protect against unnecessary pressure during exertion.
- Manage constipation. Chronic constipation can lead to constant straining. A fiber-rich diet, good hydration, and using a toilet stool under your feet can help.
- Prioritize postpartum recovery. Pelvic floor rehabilitation after delivery helps restore strength and prevent long-term pelvic floor weakness.
- Stay active. Low-impact movement like walking, swimming, and yoga supports muscle tone, circulation, and overall pelvic floor support.
Generally speaking, the earlier you get treatment, the better. Try to reach out to a professional if you have vaginal prolapse symptoms or any signs of pelvic floor weakness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pelvic organ prolapse?
It’s a condition where the pelvic floor (that is, the muscles and tissues supporting the bladder, uterus, or rectum) weakens, allowing one or more organs to drop into the vaginal canal.
Your pelvic floor is a hammock-like structure that holds your organs in place. When the pelvic floor weakens, one or more organs can shift or “drop” into the vaginal canal.
Organs that may prolapse include the bladder, uterus, rectum, and small intestine. It’s possible to have multiple types of organ prolapse at the same time.
What causes pelvic organ prolapse?
Many conditions and activities can lead to pelvic floor weakness, which contributes to prolapse. The risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse include:
- Pregnancy
- Vaginal childbirth
- Menopause
- Chronic coughing
- Chronic constipation
- Heavy lifting (especially if you’re not using the proper technique)
- Genetics
- Previous pelvic surgery
Pelvic floor therapy tools, as well as practicing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor, can help reduce some of the risk.
What does pelvic organ prolapse feel like?
Common prolapse symptoms include:
- Heaviness or pressure in the pelvis, especially while standing
- A feeling of something “falling down” in your pelvis
- A bulging sensation in the vagina, often described as feeling like a “stuck tampon”
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Bladder leakage (incontinence) especially when coughing, sneezing, or exercising
- Low back pain
- Difficulty fully emptying the bladder or bowels
You might find that your symptoms are worse at the end of the day and improve when you lie down.
What does pelvic organ prolapse look like?
Pelvic organ prolapse often looks like a bulge, lump, or tissue protruding from the vaginal opening. It may protrude more when you’re standing or straining.
With mild pelvic organ prolapse, you might not be able to see any visual signs or protrusions.
In more severe cases, the tissue may protrude further. This can cause pain or bleeding due to friction from clothing.
You might be able to identify it using a mirror, but it’s still important to get a formal diagnosis from a healthcare professional.
How common is pelvic organ prolapse?
According to the Office on Women’s Health, pelvic floor prolapse affects almost 3% of women in the United States.
It’s more common in older women, and it’s particularly common after childbirth. Some degree of prolapse is found in roughly 40–50% of women who have given birth, although not all people with prolapse experience noticeable symptoms at first.
Does pelvic organ prolapse go away?
Mild prolapse can improve on its own, especially after childbirth, but it generally doesn’t resolve fully without treatment. Typically, you’d need pelvic floor physical therapy to address prolapse and other pelvic floor issues.
A number of treatments can help with pelvic floor strengthening, including:
- Pelvic floor strengthening exercises (like kegel exercises)
- Lifestyle adjustments, such as frequent exercising and constipation management
- Pelvic floor therapy tools
- Surgery (in more severe cases)
Even if these treatments don’t make your prolapse completely “go away,” they can significantly improve your symptoms and reduce discomfort. This can support your quality of life, making it more comfortable to exercise, move, sit, use the bathroom, and be intimate.
How can I prevent pelvic organ prolapse?
You’re particularly at risk of pelvic organ prolapse after childbirth. If you’ve recently given birth, consider working with a pelvic floor therapist to prevent pelvic floor weakness.
Whether you’re postpartum or not, you can also take the following measures to keep your pelvic floor strong and healthy:
- Staying physically active to maintain muscle tone
- Managing chronic constipation
- Managing chronic coughing
- Using safe lifting techniques
- Engaging in pelvic floor strengthening exercises
- Using tools like kegel devices and vaginal dilators
Mild pelvic organ prolapse can worsen over time, so if you think you’re experiencing prolapse symptoms, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with a professional as soon as possible.
Which doctors can treat pelvic organ prolapse?
Pelvic organ prolapse can be treated by urogynecologists, as well as gynecologists, urologists, or colorectal surgeons (for rectal prolapse).
While they’re not doctors, pelvic floor physical therapists (or pelvic floor physiotherapists) are licensed, trained healthcare professionals that can treat prolapse and other pelvic floor issues.
If you’re not sure which type of prolapse you have or which healthcare professional to approach, your primary care provider might be able to assist.
Sources & Further Reading
1. Office on Women’s Health – Pelvic Organ Prolapse (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
2. Pelvic Organ Prolapse – StatPearls (NCBI/NIH) (National Library of Medicine)
3. Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse – ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
4. 5 Things I Wish All Women Knew About Pelvic Organ Prolapse – ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of pelvic organ prolapse or any medical condition.