Pelvic Organ Prolapse:

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) may be considered a type of "hernia" in which the pelvic organs descend or shift within the pelvis, and in some cases, protrude outside the vagina.

• As many as 50% of women who have given birth one or more times have some degree of genital prolapse, but only 10 to 20% experience symptoms.28
• At whole, the lifetime risk for women undergoing surgery for repair of POP is 11%. 27% percent of women have repeat surgery. 29
• Approximately half of all women over age 50 complain of symptoms associated with prolapse. 28
• It is very rare for someone who has not had a child to experience POP. Changes in connective tissue during pregnancy, pressure and weight of the uterus on the pelvic floor, weight gain of the mother, trauma to the pelvic floor and connective tissue during vaginal delivery, abdominal straining during labor, and ensuing nerve damage all promote POP. 30 31