Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when one or more pelvic organs prolapses or drops from its normal location and pushes against the walls of the vagina. It is called a rectocele when it involves the rectum and a cystocele when it involves the bladder. It happens frequently when the muscles in the area are weakened from childbirth or surgery. Symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse include feeling pressure in the vagina from the pelvic organs, feeling very full, feeling a pull or stretch in the groin and having incontinence problems. While this condition may be painful, it is often not serious and can even sometimes get better with time.

For pelvic organ prolapse that does not improve on its own or results in severe symptoms, surgery may be necessary to repair the problem. Pelvic prolapse repair surgery includes many different procedures, depending on which organ is affected. These surgeries can include repair of the bladder or urethra, repair of the vaginal wall, closure of the vagina or a hysterectomy. While pelvic organ prolapse can affect as many as 30% of women at some point in their life, it is important to treat it properly and do what you can to prevent future recurrences.