Uterine prolapse is a condition that results from the loss of uterine support.
The uterus normally retains its position by muscles, ligaments and connective tissues that suspend it from the pelvic bones. If these tissues become stretched or weakened, the uterus can fall down, or prolapse, into the vaginal space. Other pelvic organs, the urinary bladder and rectum, similarly can descend into the vaginal cavity, because it represents a potential weak spot in the pelvic floor. A prolapsed bladder is called a cystocele, and a prolapsed rectum a rectocele. These conditions are essentially hernias.