Prolapse

Let’s talk about Prolapse

Prolapse can affect women across all ages even before birth or after childbirth so why aren’t we talking about it more?

According to NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) more than half of all women will be affected by pelvic organ prolapse. ⁠

What causes Prolapse?

A number of things increase your chance of developing pelvic organ prolapse.

pregnancy and childbirth – especially if you had a long, difficult birth, or if you gave birth to a large baby or multiple babies
age and going through the menopause
being overweight
having long-term constipation or a long-term health condition that causes you to cough and strain
having a hysterectomy

Some health conditions can also cause prolapse.

How would I know I have Pelvic Organ Prolapse?

Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms include:

a feeling of heaviness around your lower tummy and genitals
a dragging discomfort inside your vagina
feeling like there’s something coming down into your vagina – it may feel like
sitting on a small ball
feeling or seeing a bulge or lump in or coming out of your vagina
discomfort or numbness during sex
problems peeing – such as feeling like your bladder is not emptying fully, needing to go to the toilet more often, or leaking a small amount of pee when you cough, sneeze or exercise (stress incontinence).

Sometimes pelvic organ prolapse has no symptoms and is found during an internal examination carried out for another reason.

What treatment is available to avoid surgical intervention?

Exercise

If you are struggling with prolapse symptoms, speak to your GP or seek out your local Mummy MOT practitioner. Many women find that doing pelvic floor exercises and/or using a vaginal pessary is enough to improve the symptoms.

Exercise for prolapse symptoms is centred around movement, breathing, self-massage and external and internal manual therapy to release tension in your pelvis and abdomen. Speak to your Mummy MOT Practitioner to arrange an exercise program for you.

Pessaries

Pessaries do not cure pelvic organ prolapse but help manage and slow the progression of prolapse as they are designed to support areas of pelvic floor. They add support to the vagina and increase the tightness of the tissues and muscles of the pelvis.⁠ Think of it as a ‘sports bra for your pelvic floor’. ⁠

If you have a pessary that is the right size and is in the right position, you won’t feel it and you’ll be able to do all your normal activities including sex.⁠ ⁠Pessaries are also a safe long-term treatment for prolapse but they do need to be changed every three to six months.

A New Way of Looking at Prolapse

The traditional way that prolapse is described is a ‘falling’ or ‘slipping down’ of the pelvic organs within the vagina. However, this explanation doesn’t fit with what we now know about how the body works.

Read Blog

Series of Videos on Biotensegrity by Anna Crowle is available

The aim of this short series of videos is to provide some information about biotensegrity: what it is, what the evidence for it is, and how understanding biotensegrity affects our understanding of pelvic organ prolapse.

View Video Course

Frequently Asked Questions

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) occurs when one or more pelvic organ, such as the bladder, uterus, or bowel, shift downward into the vaginal space, often due to weakened pelvic floor support. According to NICE, more than 50% of women will experience some form of prolapse in their lifetime. While common, it’s not something you have to live with, there are effective non-surgical treatment options available.

Typical symptoms of prolapse include:

A heavy, dragging sensation in the pelvis
A feeling of something “falling down” or bulging in the vagina
Discomfort or numbness during sex
Urinary issues such as leaking or difficulty fully emptying the bladder

Some women may have no symptoms at all. If you’re unsure, a Mummy MOT practitioner can perform a pelvic assessment to identify the type and severity of prolapse.

Several factors increase the risk of prolapse, including:

Pregnancy and childbirth, especially large babies or difficult labour
Age and menopause (due to hormonal changes)
Being overweight or having chronic constipation
Coughing or heavy lifting over time
Hysterectomy or pelvic surgery

Understanding the root cause helps tailor the most effective approach to treatment.

Yes. Many women manage prolapse symptoms without surgery through:

Pelvic floor exercises and guided rehabilitation
Manual therapy and breathwork to release tension in the core and pelvis
Lifestyle changes to reduce strain
Use of a vaginal pessary, which supports pelvic organs like a “sports bra” for your pelvic floor

A Mummy MOT assessment can help you build a personalised plan to manage or even improve your symptoms.

A pessary is a soft, removable device placed in the vagina to support pelvic organs and relieve prolapse symptoms. It can help reduce heaviness, improve bladder control, and make everyday activities, even sex, more comfortable. Pessaries do not cure prolapse, but they can slow progression and are safe for long-term use. Speak with your GP or a Mummy MOT practitioner to explore if a pessary is right for you.