12/06/2026
💜 Let's Talk About Prolapse 💜
This isn't my usual type of post, and I wouldn’t normally post something so personal but after being diagnosed with a bladder prolapse last week week, I felt it was something worth talking about.
Until recently, prolapse was something I'd vaguely heard of and, if I'm honest, I thought it was something that only affected little old ladies. How wrong I was.
The reality is that prolapse can affect women of all ages, but particularly those who have had children and those who are going through or have gone through menopause.
The more I've learned, the more shocked I've been by how common it actually is and yet how little we talk about it.
After having children, we're often briefly told to do our pelvic floor exercises and then that's about it. I certainly don't remember anyone explaining the long-term importance of pelvic floor health or discussing the possibility of prolapse in later life.
Had I understood more about it years ago, I would have taken steps to better protect my pelvic floor and overall pelvic health.
For anyone who doesn't know, a prolapse happens when the muscles and tissues supporting organs within the pelvis weaken, allowing organs such as the bladder, uterus or re**um (sometimes even 2 or all of these) to drop or bulge into the vaginal wall.
Symptoms can include:
• A feeling of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis
• A dragging sensation
• Bladder problems or difficulty emptying the bladder
• A feeling that something isn't quite right "down there"
• Lower back discomfort
• Symptoms that worsen after standing for long periods, lifting or exercise
What has surprised me most is how many women quietly live with these issues without talking about them.
And whilst childbirth and menopause are major risk factors, they aren't the only ones. Certain conditions can make prolapse more likely, including connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, chronic constipation, chronic coughing, obesity, heavy lifting and anything that repeatedly increases pressure within the abdomen over time.
What I wish more women were told is that there are things we can do to help protect ourselves:
💜 Learn how to correctly perform pelvic floor exercises and make them part of your routine.
💜 Consider Pilates or other exercises that strengthen the core and pelvic floor.
💜 Maintain a healthy weight where possible.
💜 Avoid straining when using the toilet and address constipation early.
💜 Seek advice if you have persistent coughing, as repeated pressure can affect the pelvic floor.
💜 If you are peri-menopausal or menopausal, speak to your healthcare professional about whether vaginal oestrogen creams or pessaries may be appropriate for you, as declining oestrogen levels can affect the strength and health of pelvic tissues.
💜 Don't ignore symptoms. The earlier you seek help, the more options may be available.
This post isn't about seeking sympathy. It's about awareness.
We talk much more openly now about pregnancy, childbirth and menopause, which is wonderful. But prolapse is still one of those subjects that often remains hidden, leaving many women unaware until it happens to them.
If you're a woman, particularly if you've had children, are approaching menopause, or have a condition that affects connective tissue, please don't ignore your pelvic floor health. Learn about it, talk about it and ask questions.
‼️Start looking after it now, not in ten years' time‼️
The more we talk about these things, the more we can support one another and hopefully help future generations of women feel informed, prepared and empowered.
I won't pretend this diagnosis hasn't come as a shock.
Like many women, I had very little understanding of prolapse until it happened to me. Suddenly, I've found myself having to make significant changes to protect my pelvic floor and prevent any further damage. In fact, one of the reasons I've recently had to make the difficult decision to stop offering massage treatments is because I now need to avoid placing additional strain on my body.
Living with a prolapse isn't simply a minor inconvenience. It can affect everyday activities, exercise, work, confidence and quality of life. Whilst there are treatments available that can help many women, prevention and early intervention are so important. NHS waiting times are long! I’ve been told I’ll have over 12 months to wait to see a specialist pelvic floor physio and over 3 years to wait for surgery if I decide to go down that route.
Looking back, I genuinely wish I'd been given more information years ago. Had I fully understood the risks and the steps that could be taken to protect pelvic health, I would have approached things very differently.
That's exactly why I'm sharing this. Not because I want sympathy, but because if one woman reads this and starts taking her pelvic floor health seriously today, rather than years down the line, then something positive will have come from my experience and sharing it will have been worthwhile. 💜
