A prolapse happens when pelvic floor muscles that support your pelvic organs (the vagina, bladder, uterus, urethra, and rectum) weaken and stretch.
This can be due to the following factors.
Multiple Vaginal Deliveries The stretching that occurs during vaginal childbirth can weaken pelvic floor muscles. Multiple births can raise that risk.
Menopause The hormone estrogen helps keep your pelvic muscles strong, and as this hormone decreases during menopause, these muscles can become weaker.
Hysterectomy People who have their uterus removed (also called a hysterectomy) may have a higher risk of pelvic organ prolapse, especially if their uterus was removed through the vagina (versus a stomach incision).
Age Vaginal prolapse can happen at any age, but as women get older, their risk for prolapse increases.
Heavy Lifting Lifting heavy objects can put extra pressure on your pelvic muscles and push your vaginal vault into the vagina canal.
Overweight Extra body weight also increases the pressure on your pelvic muscles, putting you at higher risk for vaginal prolapse.
Pressure Any activity that increases the pressure to your pelvic region can boost your risk for vaginal prolapse: even straining to have a bowel movement or coughing frequently.
