The muscles of the pelvic floor go through many changes during its life, for example after childbirth and during menopause. In some cases, these muscles and the surrounding connective tissues can become so weak that pelvic organs, including the uterus or bladder, sag. This is called pelvic organ prolapse or POP.
About 50% of women at some point in their lives they will develop POP and it becomes more likely as they get older.
“It’s great, it’s very common, but in many cases it actually has no effect on the patient at all.” Whitney Horner, MD, a urogynecologist at the University of Washington in Seattle tells SELF.
Although POP can cause symptoms, such as vaginal fullness, pelvic pain or pressure, or bowel or urinary changes, POP isn’t always bothersome, says Dr. Horner. Exactly 3-6% of women say they have vaginal swelling symptoms, survey data show. Many people live with this condition, with mild or no symptoms.
Still, doctors say you should be aware of the possibility of POP, know your risk factors and symptoms, and know what to do if it starts to affect your life.
What is pelvic organ prolapse?
The pelvic floor is made up of muscles, ligaments, connective tissues, and nerves that support the pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus, vagina, small intestine, and rectum. This system keeps the organs in their proper place Yale Medicine.
If the pelvic floor is weakened or damaged, the pelvic organs can fall out of their normal position, causing POP, Shaun Adair, MDurogynecologist at Atlantic Health in Morristown, New Jersey, tells SELF.
“Vaginal tissue collapses down, almost like the roof of a house, and can pull on the front wall, the back wall, or the top wall of the vagina.” Julia Geynisman-Tan, MDurogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, tells SELF.
Sometimes the organs descend into the vagina and, in advanced cases, protrude through the vaginal opening, Dr. Horner says. This process typically takes place gradually, adds Dr. Geynisman-Tan.
Who is most at risk?
Age is the most common risk factor. As you age, estrogen levels decrease, which weakens the tissues in your pelvis, Dr. Horner says. So it could be POP common in perimenopause and menopause.
Another risk factor is pregnancy and vaginal delivery (of which approx 65% of births), which can damage the pelvic floor, says Dr. Adair. “More studies prove that vaginal delivery, a large number of pregnancies and babies with a higher birth weight significantly increase the risk of prolapse.”
