Overview

Pelvic organ prolapse is when one or more pelvic organs drop from their position. This makes a bulge in the vagina, called a prolapse.

The muscles and connective tissues of the pelvic floor typically hold the pelvic organs in place. Pelvic organs include the vagina, bladder, uterus, urethra and rectum. Pelvic organ prolapse happens when the muscles and tissues of the pelvic floor weaken. This may be due to pregnancy, childbirth or menopause.

Pelvic organ prolapse can be treated. Often, nonsurgical treatment helps. Sometimes, surgery might be needed to put the pelvic organs back in place.

Products & Services

Symptoms

Sometimes, pelvic organ prolapse has no symptoms. When symptoms happen, they might include:

Seeing or feeling a bulge of tissue at or beyond the opening of the vagina.
Pelvic pressure, heaviness or pain.
Lower back pain.
Not being able to keep in a tampon.
Urinary changes. These might include urinating more, feeling an urgent need to urinate, not being able to empty the bladder all the way or having a weak urine stream.
Bowel changes, such as not emptying stool all the way or having to put fingers in the vagina to support the bulge to be able to pass stool. This is called splinting.
Sexual issues, such as pain with sex.

Weakness of the pelvic floor often affects more than one area. For instance, if one of your pelvic organs is prolapsed, you're more likely to have another type of pelvic organ prolapse.

Request an appointment

Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news. You can unsubscribe at any time. Click here for an email preview.

Email address

Address 1

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

Causes

The cause of pelvic organ prolapse is the weakening of the tissues and the muscles that support the pelvic organs. The most common cause is having a baby vaginally.

Risk factors

Risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse include:

Having more than one baby, vaginal delivery, high birth weight babies and deliveries using tools.
Being older.
Being obese.
Having had pelvic surgery.
Straining from an ongoing cough, such as from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ongoing constipation or ongoing heavy lifting.
Having a family history of pelvic organ prolapse or connective tissue conditions.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Pelvic organ prolapse care at Mayo Clinic

Request an appointment

Diagnosis & treatment

April 26, 2024

Ferri FF. Pelvic organ prolapse. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2024. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 28, 2023.
AskMayoExpert. Pelvic organ prolapse. Mayo Clinic; 2023.
Sung VW, et al. Clinical expert series: Nonoperative management of pelvic organ prolapse. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2023; doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005121.
Rogers RG, et al. Pelvic organ prolapse in females: Epidemiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and management. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 28, 2023.
Partin AW, et al., eds. Urinary incontinence and pelvic prolapse: Epidemiology and pathophysiology. In: Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 28, 2023.
Jelovsek JE. Pelvic organ prolapse in women: Choosing a primary surgical procedure. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 28, 2023.
FAQs: Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/surgery-for-pelvic-organ-prolapse. Accessed Jan. 2, 2024.
Gershenson DM, et al., eds. Pelvic organ prolapse, abdominal hernias, and inguinal hernias: Diagnosis and management. In: Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan 3, 2024.
Nguyen HT. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. June 27, 2023.

Products & Services