I’ve Been Told I Have a Prolapse. What Does That Mean?
Answer:
Many women are told they have a prolapse without anyone explaining what it is, where it is or what type they have. That can leave you confused and worried.
Inside your pelvis sit your bladder at the front, your uterus in the middle and your bowel at the back. Your pelvic floor muscles and the tissues around them hold these organs in place, like a hammock.
During pregnancy and birth, these muscles and tissues can stretch or weaken. When that happens, one or more of these organs can drop down and press into your vagina. That’s a prolapse.
The three types of prolapse
There are three main types, named by which part of your vagina is affected. Your health professional may use the medical names, so we’ve included those too.
- Front wall prolapse. Your bladder drops into the front wall of your vagina. You might hear this called an anterior wall prolapse or a cystocele.
- Top prolapse. Your uterus or cervix drops down from the top of your vagina. You might hear this called a uterine or apical prolapse.
- Back wall prolapse. Your bowel drops into the back wall of your vagina. You might hear this called a posterior wall prolapse or a rectocele.
Some women have more than one type at the same time. After birth, front wall prolapse is the most common, often alongside some dropping of the uterus.
Why it can happen after birth
A prolapse can happen after any birth. It’s more often seen after a vaginal birth, particularly when forceps were used, but it can happen after a caesarean too.
In the first months after birth, your pelvic floor is still recovering. One study used scans to follow women who had a prolapse at 6 weeks after birth, and found the support around their pelvic organs had improved a little by 4 months.
For some women, symptoms ease as their body heals. For others, a prolapse stays. Either way, there are things that can help you manage it and feel more comfortable.
When it comes as a shock
Learning what a prolapse is, and what it means for you, can help it feel less overwhelming.
Prolapse is rarely talked about before birth. Many women have never heard of it until they’re told they have one, or notice something feels different and start searching for answers.
Finding out can be a shock. You might feel worried, upset, or unsure what it means for your body, your exercise or your sex life. Some women feel like no one warned them, and that’s a fair feeling to have.
Understanding your own prolapse can help you know what to ask, and make choices that feel right for you.
A prolapse doesn't always cause symptoms
Some women are told they have a prolapse during a routine check, even though they haven’t noticed anything. This is more common than you might think. In one study of women having routine check-ups, around half had some degree of prolapse without any symptoms.
A prolapse found on examination doesn’t always cause problems. How it feels and affects your life is just as important as what’s seen during a check.
What to ask
Many women leave an appointment knowing they have a prolapse, but not much else. You can ask your health professional to explain more. Some questions you might find helpful:
- What type of prolapse do I have?
- Which part of my vagina is affected?
- How far has it dropped?
- Could it be causing the symptoms I’m noticing?
- Is there anything I should change in my day-to-day life, like lifting or exercise?
- Who can help me with this next?
It’s okay to ask them to draw it, show you on a model, or write it down for you.
Where to get support
You don’t have to work this out on your own.
- The National Continence Helpline: 1800 33 00 66. Free, confidential advice from a nurse continence specialist about prolapse and your pelvic floor.
- Your obstetrician. If you had private care, you may still be under your obstetrician’s care for the first few months after birth, so you won’t need a new referral. Check with their rooms.
- A women’s health physiotherapist. You can book privately without a referral, though there is a cost. You can also be referred through the public system, but there is usually a wait.
- Your GP. They can examine you and refer you on to a physiotherapist or specialist.
To learn more, read our articles What Does Prolapse Feel Like? and What Can You Do About Prolapse?
References
Cattani, L., Decoene, J., Page, A.S., Weeg, N., Deprest, J., & Dietz, H.P. (2021). Pregnancy, labour and delivery as risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse: a systematic review. International Urogynecology Journal, 32, 1623-1631.
Raju, R., & Linder, B.J. (2021). Evaluation and management of pelvic organ prolapse. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 96(12), 3122-3129.
Zhao, Y., Ma, L., Li, W., et al. (2025). Pelvic floor support changes in postpartum pelvic organ prolapse with involvement of single and multiple compartments. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 25, 985.
Developed by the WHEN Clinical Team
Clinically reviewed by the WHEN Clinical Governance Committee
Last reviewed: 04/10/2026
With clinical input from Peta Titter, RN, Advanced Diploma of Pilates, continence nurse specialist. Honours research in diastasis recti. PhD candidate, University of Tasmania. Founder and CEO, WHEN.
