Prolapse Surgery Recovery: Lifting, Constipation Prevention and When Intercourse Resumes

The discharge nurse said it kindly, almost in passing: no lifting, keep your bowels soft, and nothing in the vagina until your follow-up. Then she handed over a leaflet and the automatic doors opened. For many women, the questions only arrive later, at home, standing in front of a laundry basket that suddenly looks like a hazard, or feeling that first uneasy tug in the pelvis when the bathroom trip does not go smoothly.

Prolapse surgery recovery is one of those stretches of life where ordinary tasks acquire small print. Whether the operation lifted the bladder wall, resuspended the top of the vagina or repaired the back wall near the rectum, the tissue under the stitches heals on its own schedule, not the household’s. And healing is quiet. There is no visible cast, no crutches, nothing that signals to a partner or a toddler that the body is still under repair.

This article walks through what is actually happening beneath the surface and what the mainstream evidence says about three questions patients ask most: how much can I lift, how do I avoid straining, and when does intimacy come back.

What actually happens during prolapse surgery, in plain language

Pelvic organ prolapse means one or more pelvic organs, the bladder, uterus, top of the vagina or rectum, has slipped from its usual position and bulges into or out of the vagina. The supports that failed are a hammock of muscle and connective tissue called the pelvic floor, plus ligaments that anchor the uterus and vaginal apex to the pelvic bones.

Surgery aims to restore that support rather than remove anything, although a hysterectomy is sometimes part of the plan. According to the NHS, the common approaches include repairing the front or back vaginal wall by folding and stitching the stretched tissue, suspending the top of the vagina to a strong ligament, and in some cases attaching it to the sacrum using a graft. Operations may be done through the vagina, through small abdominal incisions with a camera, or occasionally through a larger abdominal cut.

Whatever the route, the surgeon is working with tissue that has already been stretched, and often with connective tissue that is weaker than average. The repair depends on sutures holding the tissue in place while the body lays down its own scar. That scar is the real repair, and it takes weeks to gain strength. In the first fortnight the stitches carry most of the load; by six weeks new collagen is doing much of the work, but it continues to mature for months.

This is why nearly every post-operative instruction comes back to one idea: do not put sudden pressure on the pelvic floor before the scar can take it. Lifting, straining on the toilet, chronic coughing and intercourse all raise pressure inside the abdomen, and that pressure pushes directly down on the fresh repair. Understanding the mechanism makes the rules feel less arbitrary and, in most people’s experience, easier to keep.

Who prolapse surgery is usually for, and who is asked to wait

Surgery is generally offered when a prolapse causes symptoms that bother the woman, a sensation of bulge or dragging, difficulty emptying the bladder or bowel, or discomfort with intimacy, and when non-surgical measures have not helped enough or are not wanted. The NHS lists pelvic floor muscle training, lifestyle changes such as weight management and constipation control, and vaginal pessaries, removable supports fitted inside the vagina, as the usual first steps. Many women manage well with these for years.

The Cochrane review of apical prolapse surgery notes that population studies estimate roughly 11 to 19 percent of women will undergo an operation for prolapse or incontinence in their lifetime, so the decision is common but never automatic. A prolapse seen on examination but causing no symptoms is usually not operated on; the benefit has to outweigh the risks of anesthesia, bleeding, infection and the possibility of new bladder or bowel symptoms afterward.

Surgeons commonly suggest waiting in several situations. A woman who plans further pregnancies is often advised to complete her family first, because labor and delivery can undo a repair. Someone with uncontrolled constipation, a persistent cough or a body weight that is rising is frequently asked to work on those pressures beforehand, since they threaten the result. Active infection, poorly controlled diabetes or heart and lung conditions that make anesthesia riskier may also delay a planned date.

Age alone is not a barrier. Prolapse is most common after menopause, and repairs are routinely performed in women in their seventies and eighties when general health allows. The conversation that matters is about goals: whether the aim is to restore intercourse, to fix emptying problems, or simply to stop the bulge, because those goals shape which operation is chosen and what recovery is expected to protect.

The first few days after prolapse surgery: catheter, pain and discharge

Most women wake with a urinary catheter, a thin tube draining the bladder, and sometimes a vaginal pack, a length of gauze placed to reduce bleeding. Both are typically removed within a day or two, and the NHS describes hospital stays of roughly one to three days depending on the type of operation and how quickly the bladder starts emptying normally.

Before discharge the team usually checks that you can pass urine and that a scan or measurement shows the bladder is emptying reasonably well. Swelling around the urethra can make the first attempts hesitant. If emptying is incomplete, a catheter may go back in for a few days or you may be taught to pass a small catheter yourself at home. That is a common detour rather than a sign the repair has failed.

Pain is usually described as a deep ache or heaviness rather than sharp incision pain, particularly after vaginal repairs. Sitting on a soft cushion, walking short distances every hour or two while awake, and taking prescribed pain relief on the schedule the team sets rather than waiting for pain to peak all help. If a laparoscopic route was used, gas trapped under the diaphragm can produce shoulder-tip pain for a day or so.

Vaginal bleeding or discharge is expected. It often looks like a light period for the first days, then becomes brownish or yellowish and thinner. A brief return of fresh bleeding around two to three weeks is common as dissolvable stitches soften and fall away. Heavy bleeding, large clots or a foul smell are the exceptions covered later in the red-flag section.

Walking is the one activity actively encouraged from day one. It reduces the risk of blood clots in the legs, gets the bowels moving and steadies mood. Stairs are fine taken slowly; the aim is movement, not exertion.

How long does it take to recover from prolapse surgery? A week-by-week guide

Timelines below are typical ranges drawn from NHS, Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic patient guidance. Your surgeon’s instructions override them, because the extent of the repair, the route used and your own health all shift the schedule.

Stage	What usually happens	Common restrictions
Days 1 to 3	Catheter and pack removed; bladder emptying checked; discharge home	Walk indoors; no lifting; short rests lying flat
Week 1 to 2	Ache eases; discharge lightens; bowels settle into a soft routine	Light household tasks at counter height; no driving until comfortable and off sedating medicine
Week 3 to 4	Energy returns; stitches begin to dissolve, sometimes with a little fresh spotting	Gentle walks lengthen; still no lifting above a light bag; no intercourse
Week 6	Post-operative check; internal healing usually assessed	Intercourse, low-impact exercise and heavier chores typically cleared if healing is satisfactory
Weeks 6 to 12	Scar tissue matures; return to most work and exercise	Heavy lifting and high-impact sport often held until around three months

Two patterns are worth knowing. First, fatigue lasts longer than pain. Women often feel comfortable by day ten yet need a nap by mid-afternoon for a month; that is normal healing energy being spent. Second, the six-week mark is a check, not a finish line. The Cleveland Clinic advises that the repair continues gaining strength for about three months, which is why lifting limits often outlast the return of intimacy and desk work. Treat the timeline as a set of doors that open one at a time, each after the team confirms the tissue is ready.

Lifting after prolapse surgery: why the rule exists and what counts as heavy

Lifting is restricted because of physics, not caution for its own sake. When you pick something up, the abdominal muscles brace and pressure inside the abdomen rises sharply. That pressure has nowhere to go but down, onto the pelvic floor and onto the fresh line of sutures. A single heavy lift in the first weeks is unlikely to tear a repair, but repeated pressure spikes before the scar has matured are exactly the mechanism by which a corrected bulge can begin to return.

What counts as heavy? Cleveland Clinic and NHS guidance describe limits in everyday terms: nothing heavier than a small bag of groceries or a full kettle for the first six weeks, which is often expressed as roughly the weight of a gallon of milk. A laundry basket, a vacuum cleaner pulled across carpet, a toddler, a bag of compost or a carry-on suitcase hoisted into an overhead locker all exceed that. Pushing a loaded shopping cart uphill and pulling a stuck drawer create the same bracing effect even though nothing leaves the ground.

Practical adaptations help more than willpower. Break loads into smaller trips. Keep frequently used items at waist height so nothing has to be lifted from the floor. Sit to lift a small child onto your lap rather than scooping from standing. Ask for groceries to be carried to the counter. When a lift is unavoidable, exhale as you lift rather than holding your breath; breath-holding is what drives the biggest pressure surge.

Restrictions typically ease in stages. Many surgeons allow moderate loads after the six-week review and lift most limits at around three months, while advising that very heavy repetitive lifting is a long-term risk factor for recurrence regardless of surgery. If your job involves manual handling, raise this early so a phased return can be planned with an occupational health service.

Why constipation after prolapse surgery is so common

Constipation is the complication almost everyone experiences to some degree and few are warned about clearly. Several forces converge. Opioid pain relief slows the muscular waves that move stool through the colon. Anesthesia and the disruption of surgery itself temporarily quiet the gut. Reduced walking, lower fluid intake in the first days and a lighter appetite all thicken and slow stool. If the repair involved the back vaginal wall, swelling near the rectum can make the passage feel narrow and emptying feel incomplete even when the bowel is not actually full.

Fear plays a part too. Many women, aware that straining is forbidden, tense up on the toilet and unconsciously hold back. The result is stool that sits longer, dries further and becomes harder to pass without exactly the effort they were trying to avoid.

Why does this matter beyond discomfort? Straining is the toilet equivalent of heavy lifting. Bearing down pushes the pelvic organs against the repaired tissue, and a hard stool passing along the rectum presses directly on a posterior repair. MedlinePlus notes that chronic constipation and straining contribute to prolapse developing in the first place, so it follows that the same pressure can undermine a fresh operation.

Timing matters as well. The first bowel movement typically comes between day two and day four. If it has not arrived by then, or if what arrives is hard and painful, the plan agreed before discharge should be stepped up rather than waited out. Most care teams will have discussed a stool softener or gentle laxative class in advance precisely for this window, and the prescribing clinician decides how and when it is used. Constipation that persists beyond the opioid phase usually has a second cause, most often low fiber or fluid, and is worth mentioning at the follow-up.

How to prevent constipation after prolapse surgery without straining

The goal is stool that is soft enough to pass with almost no effort, roughly the consistency of a ripe banana, arriving most days. Four levers achieve that, and they work best together.

Fluids come first. Aim for pale yellow urine as a simple guide; the NHS suggests around six to eight glasses of fluid a day for most adults. Fiber follows, but introduce it gradually. Oats, prunes, pears, kiwifruit, beans and ground flaxseed add bulk that holds water, whereas a sudden large increase without fluid can make things worse. Movement is the third lever: even ten minutes of walking after meals stimulates the colon.

The fourth lever is medication, and here classes matter more than names. Osmotic laxatives draw water into the bowel and soften stool; stool softeners lower surface tension so water mixes into stool more easily; bulk-forming fiber supplements act like dietary fiber. Stimulant laxatives provoke contractions and are usually reserved for short-term use. Which class, and for how long, is a decision for the prescribing clinician, ideally made before discharge so the plan is in hand rather than improvised on day three.

Toilet technique is underrated. Sit with knees higher than hips, using a small stool under the feet, lean forward with forearms on thighs, and let the belly relax and bulge rather than tightening it. Breathe out slowly, as if fogging a mirror, instead of holding your breath. Some pelvic health physiotherapists teach supporting the perineum, the skin between vagina and anus, with a folded pad of tissue during a bowel movement to counter pressure on a posterior repair.

Never ignore the urge. Delaying allows the rectum to absorb water and hardens stool. And if nothing has passed in three days despite these measures, contact the team rather than straining harder.

When can you have intercourse after prolapse surgery, and what to expect at first

Most guidance, including the NHS and Mayo Clinic, advises waiting until the post-operative check, typically around six weeks, before penetrative intercourse. The reason is anatomical: vaginal repairs involve suture lines along the vaginal walls or at the vaginal apex, and penetration before those lines have healed risks bleeding, infection or disruption of the repair. The same applies to tampons, menstrual cups, vaginal dilators and sex toys. External intimacy that does not involve penetration or pressure on the pelvic floor is usually acceptable sooner, though it is reasonable to ask the team directly rather than assume.

Clearance at six weeks means the tissue is healed enough to be safe, not that it will feel exactly as before. Early on the vagina may feel tighter, drier or differently shaped, and some women notice a pulling sensation at the top or back. Postmenopausal tissue heals with less natural lubrication, and some surgeons discuss local vaginal estrogen, a hormone applied inside the vagina to thicken and moisten the lining, as part of pre- or post-operative care; whether it is appropriate is a decision for the prescribing clinician.

Practical steps ease the first experiences. Use a generous amount of water-based lubricant. Choose positions in which the woman controls depth and pace, side-lying or on top for example. Go slowly, stop if there is sharp pain, and expect that mild tenderness may take a few more weeks to settle. Light spotting after the first attempt is not unusual; bleeding that continues or pain that persists should be reported.

Honest conversations with a partner matter as much as timing. Fear of harming the repair is common on both sides and can itself cause tension and discomfort. If pain with intercourse persists beyond three months, pelvic health physiotherapy and a review by the surgeon are the usual next steps, and both are worth requesting rather than enduring quietly.

Bladder changes after prolapse repair and the role of pelvic floor exercises

Bladder behavior often changes after surgery, sometimes for the better and sometimes in unexpected ways. A large anterior prolapse can kink the urethra and mask leakage; once the bladder is repositioned, stress incontinence, leaking with a cough or sneeze, may appear or worsen. The Cochrane review of apical prolapse surgery reports that new bladder symptoms are among the recognized consequences of repair, which is why some women have a bladder function test before the operation and why a continence procedure is sometimes discussed alongside the repair.

Frequency and urgency are common in the first weeks as swelling settles and the bladder adjusts to a new position. A slow stream or a sense of incomplete emptying usually improves as inflammation recedes. Burning with urination, cloudy urine or a fever, however, suggest infection and belong on the call-your-doctor list.

Pelvic floor muscle training is the long game. These exercises, sometimes called Kegels, involve squeezing the muscles you would use to stop passing urine or wind, holding for a few seconds, then relaxing fully. The NHS recommends them both to manage mild prolapse and to support recovery after surgery, and evidence summarized by the Cochrane collaboration supports pelvic floor training for improving prolapse symptoms in general. Most surgeons allow gentle contractions to restart within the first week or two, building up gradually, but ask before beginning.

Technique is the sticking point. Many women bear down instead of lifting, or tighten buttocks and thighs instead of the pelvic floor. A single session with a pelvic health physiotherapist, who can confirm the correct squeeze and set a progression, tends to be more useful than any leaflet. Consistency over months, not intensity over days, is what strengthens support around the repair and reduces the load on the surgical result.

Returning to work, driving and exercise during prolapse surgery recovery

Work timing depends on what the job asks of the pelvic floor. NHS guidance describes taking a few weeks off, and in practice desk-based roles often resume between two and four weeks, while roles involving lifting, prolonged standing or heavy physical effort more commonly wait until the six-week review or a phased return. Working from home for the first stretch, if available, allows rest breaks and avoids commuting fatigue.

Driving is usually possible once you can sit comfortably, twist to check mirrors, perform an emergency stop without hesitation and are no longer taking pain relief that causes drowsiness. For many women that falls around two weeks after vaginal repair, longer after abdominal surgery. Some insurers ask for surgeon confirmation, so check the policy.

Exercise follows a graded path. Walking is unrestricted from the start and is the ideal early activity; increasing distance a little each day builds stamina without pressure spikes. Swimming and cycling are typically cleared after the six-week check once discharge has stopped and the wound is closed. Running, jumping, heavy weights and sit-ups are the last to return, often around three months, because each produces sharp increases in abdominal pressure. Pilates and yoga can be resumed earlier if positions that bear down, such as loaded planks or deep squats with breath-holding, are modified.

Some habits are worth changing permanently. Chronic high-impact loading and heavy lifting with breath-holding are recognized contributors to prolapse and to its recurrence. That does not mean a lifetime ban on strength training, which protects bone and balance, but it does mean learning to exhale on effort, keeping loads sensible and letting a pelvic health physiotherapist guide the progression. Fitness is a partner to the repair when it is built with the pelvic floor in mind.

Risks, recurrence and what the evidence actually shows

Every operation carries risks, and prolapse surgery is no exception. The NHS and Mayo Clinic list bleeding, infection, injury to the bladder, bowel or ureters, blood clots, pain with intercourse, new or worsened urinary incontinence and reactions to anesthesia. Most are uncommon and many are treatable when identified early, which is one reason follow-up appointments matter.

The question women ask most is whether the prolapse will come back. The honest answer is that it can. The Cochrane review of surgery for apical vaginal prolapse found that recurrence and repeat surgery occur in a meaningful minority of women over the years following repair, with rates varying by the type of operation, the tissue quality and the presence of ongoing pressure such as constipation, chronic cough or heavy lifting. The same review compared native tissue repairs, which use the woman’s own tissue, with procedures using graft material, and found trade-offs rather than a clear winner: some approaches showed lower recurrence but higher rates of specific complications. Vaginal mesh used through the vagina has been restricted in several countries because of complications, and the NHS notes it is now used only in limited circumstances after careful discussion.

What this means for recovery is practical. The behaviors that protect the repair in the first three months, avoiding strain and heavy lifting, are the same ones that protect it over the following decade. Maintaining a healthy weight, treating constipation promptly, seeking care for persistent cough and continuing pelvic floor exercises are all modifiable factors.

Alternatives remain available if recurrence happens: a pessary, further pelvic floor training or a second operation using a different technique. None of these possibilities is a reason to avoid surgery when symptoms justify it; they are reasons to go in with realistic expectations and a plan for long-term pelvic health.

What people often get wrong about prolapse surgery recovery

The first myth is that feeling well means being healed. Pain often fades within two weeks, but suture strength and scar maturation follow their own timetable. Women who feel fine at day twelve and return to hauling laundry are testing tissue that is nowhere near full strength.

The second is the opposite error: that rest means bed. Prolonged lying down raises the risk of blood clots, slows the bowel and deconditions the very muscles that support the repair. Frequent gentle walking is protective; sofa-bound immobility is not.

Third, many assume constipation is a nuisance rather than a threat. Straining generates the same downward pressure as lifting, and a hard stool pressing against a posterior repair is a direct mechanical load. Preventing constipation is part of protecting the surgery, not a side issue.

Fourth, the six-week clearance is often heard as permission to resume everything at full intensity. In reality it typically covers intercourse, swimming and moderate activity, while heavy lifting and high-impact sport are frequently held until around three months, according to Cleveland Clinic guidance.

Fifth, some believe surgery makes pelvic floor exercises unnecessary. The operation restores anatomy; the muscles still provide the day-to-day support that reduces load on the repair, and Cochrane evidence supports training them.

Sixth, there is a widespread assumption that intercourse will be painful forever or that the vagina will be too narrow. Early tenderness is common, but persistent pain is not the expected outcome and has treatments, from lubricants and local estrogen discussed with a clinician to physiotherapy.

Finally, women often blame themselves when a prolapse recurs. Connective tissue quality, prior childbirth injury and genetics play substantial roles that no amount of careful behavior fully controls. Recurrence is a known possibility, not a personal failing.

Questions to ask your care team before and after prolapse surgery

Good questions turn a leaflet into a plan tailored to you. Before the operation, it helps to understand exactly what is being repaired and why that approach was chosen over alternatives, including a pessary or continued pelvic floor training. Ask whether a hysterectomy is part of the plan, whether any graft material will be used and what the surgeon’s own experience suggests about recovery for this particular procedure.

On recovery logistics, consider asking:

• How long is the expected hospital stay, and what determines whether I go home with a catheter?
• What is the bowel plan for the first week, and who do I contact if nothing has passed by day three?
• What weight limit applies to lifting, for how long, and how will that change after the six-week review?
• When may I drive, return to my specific job and restart my usual exercise?
• When can I begin pelvic floor exercises, and is a referral to a pelvic health physiotherapist available?
• When is intercourse safe, and what should I do if it is painful once cleared?
• Which symptoms should prompt a same-day call, and what number do I use out of hours?

After the operation, the six-week review is the moment to report anything that has changed: new leakage, difficulty emptying, ongoing discharge, pain or low mood. It is also the time to ask how the repair looks, whether any activities remain restricted and how long the surgeon wishes to follow you.

Writing questions down beforehand, and bringing someone to listen, makes a short appointment far more useful. Every decision, from laxative class to the date of return to work, sits with the treating team; the purpose of asking is to make sure that team has the details of your life, your job and your household when it advises you.

When to call your doctor during prolapse surgery recovery: red-flag signs

Most recoveries are uneventful, but a few symptoms should never wait for the scheduled review. Contact the surgical team or seek urgent care the same day if you notice any of the following, which the NHS and Mayo Clinic identify as warning signs after pelvic surgery:

• Heavy vaginal bleeding that soaks a pad within an hour, passes large clots, or returns bright red after having faded
• Fever above 100.4°F (38°C), chills, or feeling suddenly unwell
• Vaginal discharge that becomes foul-smelling, green or markedly heavier
• Inability to pass urine for six to eight hours, or a painfully full bladder
• Burning on urination, cloudy or bloody urine, or pain in the flank
• Severe or worsening abdominal or pelvic pain not eased by prescribed pain relief
• No bowel movement by day three despite the agreed bowel plan, or vomiting with a swollen abdomen
• Redness, swelling, warmth or pus at any incision
• Calf pain, swelling or warmth in one leg

Call emergency services immediately for sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood or collapse, which can signal a blood clot that has traveled to the lungs.

Some concerns are less urgent but still deserve a call within a day or two: a sensation that the bulge has returned, leakage of urine or stool that is new, persistent pain with sitting, or a feeling that something is protruding. These are not emergencies, but early assessment allows the team to look, reassure or act before a small problem becomes a larger one. Low mood or anxiety that lingers after the second week is also worth raising; recovery from pelvic surgery affects more than tissue, and support is available. When in doubt, the rule is simple: if you are worried enough to search for the answer, you are worried enough to phone.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to recover from prolapse surgery?

Most women feel largely recovered by about six weeks, with heavier activity and lifting restricted until roughly three months according to NHS and Cleveland Clinic guidance. Pain usually eases within two weeks, fatigue lasts longer, and the internal scar continues maturing for months. Your surgeon sets the timeline based on the type of repair and your health.

What is the lifting limit after prolapse surgery?

Guidance commonly describes nothing heavier than a light bag of groceries, about the weight of a gallon of milk, for the first six weeks. Pushing, pulling and carrying children count too. Limits typically ease after the six-week review and lift further around three months, while very heavy repetitive lifting remains a long-term risk factor for recurrence.

Why do I have constipation after prolapse surgery?

Opioid pain relief, anesthesia, reduced walking, lower fluid intake and swelling near the rectum all slow the bowel and harden stool. Fear of straining can make women hold back, worsening the problem. Because straining loads the repair, most teams agree a bowel plan before discharge and want to hear if nothing has passed by day three.

When is sex after prolapse repair considered safe?

Penetrative intercourse is usually deferred until the post-operative check at around six weeks, when the surgeon confirms the vaginal suture lines have healed. Non-penetrative intimacy is often acceptable earlier. Expect some tenderness or dryness at first; lubricant and positions that give you control help, and persistent pain should be reviewed rather than endured.

Can I drive after prolapse surgery?

Driving is usually reasonable once you can sit comfortably, twist to check mirrors, brake hard without hesitation and are no longer taking sedating pain relief. For many women that is around two weeks after vaginal repair and longer after abdominal surgery. Check your insurer’s requirements and ask your team for confirmation.

What are the signs prolapse surgery has failed?

A returning sensation of bulge, heaviness or something protruding, new difficulty emptying the bladder or bowel, or renewed dragging discomfort should prompt a review. Early swelling can mimic these feelings, so assessment rather than assumption is the right step. Recurrence is a known possibility and options including pessaries, physiotherapy or further surgery remain available.

When can I start pelvic floor exercises after surgery?

Many surgeons allow gentle pelvic floor contractions within the first week or two, building gradually, but ask before beginning. The NHS recommends these exercises to support recovery, and Cochrane evidence supports them for prolapse symptoms generally. A session with a pelvic health physiotherapist helps confirm you are lifting rather than bearing down.

Is bleeding three weeks after prolapse surgery normal?

Light fresh spotting around two to three weeks is common as dissolvable stitches soften and fall away, often after discharge had become brown or yellow. Bleeding that soaks a pad within an hour, contains large clots or comes with fever or foul-smelling discharge is not expected and should prompt a same-day call.

Will I leak urine after prolapse surgery?

Some women develop new stress incontinence because a large prolapse had been kinking the urethra and masking leakage; others find bladder emptying improves. The Cochrane review lists new bladder symptoms among recognized outcomes. Frequency and urgency in the first weeks usually settle, and persistent leakage has treatments your team can discuss.

How do I avoid straining on the toilet after prolapse repair?

Keep stool soft with fluids, gradual fiber, daily walking and whatever laxative class your clinician recommends. On the toilet, raise your knees above your hips with a footstool, lean forward, relax the belly and breathe out slowly instead of holding your breath. Respond to the urge promptly, and call the team if three days pass without a movement.

References

• NHS – Pelvic organ prolapse: Treatment
• Cleveland Clinic – Pelvic Organ Prolapse

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.