Pelvic Organ Prolapse: What That Heaviness Really Means (And What You Can Do About It + A Free Event To Learn More)
- Blueberry Therapy
- 9 hours ago
- 8 min read
That Feeling You Cannot Quite Name
Pelvic organ prolapse is one of the most common conditions we see at Blueberry Therapy — and one of the least talked about. You’re carrying groceries in from the car, or chasing your toddler across the playground, and there it is again: that heavy, dragging feeling low in your pelvis. Like something is sitting where it shouldn’t be. You noticed it when you wiped. Your partner mentioned something felt different during intimacy. You ended up in an 11pm Google spiral that scared you more than it helped.
You are not broken. You are not alone. And there is so much that can be done.
What you may be experiencing is called pelvic organ prolapse — one of the most common, most under-discussed, and most treatable conditions in women’s pelvic health. Our teams in Hamilton and Dundas, Ontario talk about it every single day at Blueberry Therapy. The only awkward conversation is the one we’re not having.
Up to 50% of women who've given birth experience some degree of pelvic organ prolapse. That's one in two people. Most have never heard the word until they're deep in a 2am Google spiral trying to describe a feeling they can't quite name.
Kristen is hosting a free in-person event Next Thursday to fix that information gap — and you're invited.
Thursday's workshop covers exactly what you need to know — what prolapse actually is, how incredibly common it is across all ages and stages, every treatment option available before surgery, how pessaries work, and what comprehensive care looks like in practice. You'll meet some of our multidisciplinary team, see pessaries and supportive products in person, and get to ask every question you've been holding onto.
Thursday, March 26th | 5–7pm | The Nest at Blueberry Therapy
Free admission. Drop-in format — come anytime between 5 and 7, stay for 10 minutes or the full 2 hours. Everyone who attends gets a 10% discount code for our online store.
No registration required. Just show up.
What Is Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) happens when the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue that support your pelvic organs — your bladder, uterus, and rectum — become weakened or stretched. When that support system can't do its job, one or more of those organs shift downward, pressing into or bulging through the vaginal wall.
Think of your pelvic floor like a hammock. It's designed to hold everything in place. After pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal changes, or years of accumulated strain, that hammock loses tension. The organs it's supporting start to sag.
Prolapse exists on a spectrum. Many women have some degree of prolapse and never know it. Others experience symptoms that significantly affect their daily life, their confidence, and their comfort. Both are valid. Both deserve care.
Types of Prolapse
Cystocele (bladder prolapse): The bladder drops toward the front vaginal wall — the most common type. Often shows up as urinary leaking, urgency, or difficulty fully emptying your bladder.
Uterine prolapse: The uterus descends into the vaginal canal. You may feel pressure, heaviness, or a noticeable bulge.
Rectocele (rectal prolapse): The rectum pushes into the back vaginal wall, causing constipation or a feeling that you can't fully empty your bowel.
Vaginal vault prolapse: For women who've had a hysterectomy, the top of the vagina can lose support and drop downward.
What Causes Prolapse?
Most of the factors that contribute to prolapse are things you had little or no control over. Your body did something extraordinary. That's where this story starts.
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Vaginal delivery is the single biggest risk factor for prolapse. The weight of pregnancy, the stretching of labour, and the pressure of pushing all place enormous demand on your pelvic floor. Multiple deliveries, larger babies, long pushing stages, and assisted deliveries with forceps or vacuum increase that load. None of this is your fault.
Perimenopause and Menopause
As estrogen levels decline — often beginning in your late 30s and accelerating through your 40s and 50s — the connective tissues that support your pelvic organs lose elasticity and strength. This is why many women first notice prolapse symptoms during perimenopause, even if they gave birth years earlier. Hormonal shifts can tip the balance on a pelvic floor that has been quietly compensating for years.
Other Contributing Factors
Chronic constipation and straining, persistent coughing, repeated heavy lifting, and family history of connective tissue weakness can all contribute. Some women are simply more genetically predisposed. Again — this is not something you caused.
You Are Not Broken — And You Are Not Alone
Up to 50% of women who have given birth vaginally have some degree of pelvic organ prolapse. One in three women over 60 is affected. By the age of 80, that number climbs to one in two. |
And yet, most women have never heard of it until they experience it themselves. The silence around prolapse — the discomfort of talking about vaginal heaviness, bulging, or changes to intimacy — means that millions of women suffer in quiet confusion, wondering what's wrong with them.
Nothing is wrong with you. Your body is telling you something, and there are people who specialize in listening. At Blueberry Therapy, we hear these stories every single day. The woman who was afraid to pick up her baby. The runner who gave up the sport she loved. The partner who avoided intimacy because something didn't feel right. Every one of them found answers, found relief, and rebuilt their confidence.
What You Can Actually Do About It
Prolapse is not a one-way road to surgery. For the vast majority of women, conservative treatment is remarkably effective — and pelvic health physiotherapy is where we start.
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
This is the gold standard first-line treatment for pelvic organ prolapse, and it's the foundation of everything we do at Blueberry Therapy. A pelvic health physiotherapist assesses the strength, coordination, and function of your pelvic floor muscles, then builds a personalized plan to restore support.
This is not just Kegels. Many women do Kegels incorrectly — squeezing when they should be coordinating, or bearing down when they should be lifting. Done wrong, they can make symptoms worse. A proper assessment changes everything.
Treatment may include internal and external pelvic floor assessment, targeted prolapse exercises to restore strength and coordination, breathing and posture strategies, education about your specific type and grade of prolapse, and a supported return to the activities you love. We say ‘Blueberry up and in’ — and we mean it literally and figuratively. Lifting and supporting, not bracing and guarding.
Pelvic health physiotherapy doesn't just manage symptoms. It gives you understanding. When you know what's happening in your body and why, you move from fear to action.
Pessaries
A pessary is a small, removable device inserted into the vagina to provide structural support for prolapsed organs. Think of it as an internal support system — it holds things in place so you can move, exercise, and live comfortably.
Lifestyle Strategies
Small, specific changes make a meaningful difference: managing constipation to reduce straining, learning proper lifting mechanics (hint: exhale on effort, Blueberry up and in), maintaining a healthy weight, and treating chronic coughs. Your physiotherapist will help you identify which factors are most relevant to your situation.
Surgical Options
For some women, surgery is appropriate — especially when conservative treatment hasn't provided sufficient relief or prolapse is severe. Surgical options have improved significantly and can be very effective. But surgery is rarely the first step, and many women find they don't need it at all after working with a pelvic health physiotherapist.
What to Expect at a Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Appointment
We know the idea of seeing a physiotherapist for something 'down there' can feel vulnerable. That's why we want you to know exactly what happens before you walk in the door.
Your first appointment at Blueberry Therapy starts with a thorough conversation. We want to hear your story — your symptoms, your concerns, your goals, and what you've already tried. Then, with your consent, your physiotherapist performs an assessment that may include an internal pelvic floor exam. This helps us understand what's happening structurally so we can build the most effective plan for you.
Everything is explained before it happens. You are always in control. You leave that first appointment understanding your body better than you did when you walked in — and with a clear plan for what comes next.
If you want to understand all of this in person — with time to ask questions and see treatment options up close — our free prolapse workshop on March 26th was built exactly for that. Details below.
Your Prolapse Questions, Answered
What does pelvic organ prolapse feel like? Most women describe heaviness, pressure, or fullness in the pelvis — like something is 'sitting low' or 'falling out.' Some feel or see a bulge at the vaginal opening. Symptoms are typically worse by the end of the day, after prolonged standing, or during physical activity. Some women notice changes during intimacy. If any of this sounds familiar, it's worth getting assessed. |
Can prolapse be fixed without surgery? Yes. Many women see significant improvement with pelvic health physiotherapy, pessary use, and lifestyle modifications — without surgery. Physiotherapy is recommended as the first-line treatment by leading medical organizations. Surgery is typically reserved for cases where conservative treatment hasn't provided adequate relief, which represents a minority of women who seek care. |
Is it safe to exercise with a prolapse? Absolutely — with the right guidance. Exercise is not only safe but beneficial for women with prolapse. A pelvic health physiotherapist helps you modify activities, choose prolapse-friendly movement, and gradually return to higher-impact exercise. The goal is to keep you active and strong, not on the sidelines. |
What is a pessary and how does it help? A pessary is a removable device worn inside the vagina that supports prolapsed organs. It can significantly reduce symptoms and allow women to stay active and comfortable. Pessaries are fitted by a trained healthcare provider and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit each woman's anatomy. Many women use them long-term; others use them while building pelvic floor strength through physiotherapy. |
Does prolapse get worse after menopause? It can. Declining estrogen during menopause weakens the connective tissue that supports pelvic organs. This is why many women notice new or worsening symptoms during perimenopause, even years after childbirth. Proactive pelvic floor care during this phase of life makes a measurable difference. |
How does pelvic health physiotherapy treat prolapse? A pelvic health physiotherapist assesses your pelvic floor muscles and builds a personalized program to restore strength, coordination, and support. Treatment includes internal assessment, targeted exercises, movement strategies, and education about your condition. The research is clear: 80% of women see improvement with pelvic floor therapy. Those are odds worth acting on. |
Is it safe to have sex with a prolapse? Yes — for most women with prolapse, sex is safe. Some women notice discomfort, pressure, or changes in sensation, and those symptoms are worth discussing with your pelvic health physiotherapist. Treatment can address the underlying support issues that make intimacy uncomfortable. You don’t have to avoid sex or accept that it will always feel different. This is one of the most common concerns we hear at Blueberry Therapy, and it’s absolutely part of the hole shebang. |
You Deserve to Understand Your Body
Pelvic organ prolapse is common. It’s treatable. And it is nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve been carrying this quietly — maybe for years — and the fact that you’re here, looking for answers, matters. That’s the first step.
At Blueberry Therapy, we specialize in helping women understand what’s happening in their bodies and supporting them toward feeling strong, informed, and back in control. Whether you’re postpartum, perimenopausal, or somewhere in between — we’re here, and we cover the hole shebang.
Kristen Parise, BHSc (PT), MSc
Owner & Clinical Director, Blueberry Therapy Pelvic Health & Pediatrics | Hamilton & Dundas, Ontario | Host, The Hole Shebang Podcast
Two ways to Take the Next Step: Join us in person — free. Our prolapse workshop runs Thursday, March 26th from 5–7pm at The Nest at Blueberry Therapy. Drop in anytime. Kristen will walk through what prolapse actually is, how common it is, and every treatment option available. See pessaries in person. Ask the questions you've been sitting on. Leave with real information and a 10% discount on our online store. Book a pelvic health physiotherapy assessment at Blueberry Therapy. Our team is here to help you understand your body, explore your options, and feel strong again.
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Blueberry Therapy Pelvic Health & Pediatrics • blueberrytherapy.ca • 289-238-8383
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