A posterior prolapse is a bulge in the back wall of your vagina. It is caused by weakness of the support tissues between your vagina and your bowel (see figure 1).

A posterior prolapse can cause a sensation of `something coming down', the feeling of not having fully emptied your bowel and the need to press on the back wall of your vagina to fully empty your bowel. It can also cause discomfort when having sex and difficulty keeping a tampon in.

A posterior prolapse is usually caused by childbirth but sometimes the problem can happen in women who have never been pregnant.

If you have only a mild prolapse, your doctor will usually recommend that you have a posterior repair only after you have tried simple treatments such as pelvic-floor exercises or treating any constipation.

There is another surgical procedure that involves replacing the support tissues with a mesh.

How Soon Will I Recover?

You should expect a slight discharge or bleeding from your vagina. Let the healthcare team know if this becomes heavy.

You will usually be able to go home after one to three days. Rest for two weeks and continue to do the exercises that you were shown in hospital.

Do not have sex for six weeks or at least until any bleeding or discharge has stopped.

Do not stand for too long or lift anything heavy. You can return to work once your doctor has said you are well enough to do so (usually after six to eight weeks).

Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.

Continue your pelvic-floor exercises as soon as possible and keep doing them for life. Drink plenty of fluid and increase the amount of fibre in your diet to keep your bowel movements soft. This will help to prevent the prolapse from coming back and reduce the risk of you becoming constipated.