Women across the country are dealing with a chronic condition they’re not talking about: pelvic organ prolapse.

It’s when your pelvic floor weakens to the point that it can’t hold up your pelvic organs, so the organs drop down to put pressure on your vagina or rectum.

Up to 50 percent of women will develop pelvic organ prolapse over the course of their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Annaceci Peacher, a urogynecologist at Tidelands Health OB/GYN at Georgetown and Holmestown Road, says women with the condition don’t have to live in discomfort.

“Once they decide to do something, they say, ‘Why didn’t I do something sooner?'” Dr. Peacher says. “Once they come in and get issues addressed, they feel so much better and wish they had done something years ago.”

Although pelvic organ prolapse doesn’t cause pain, it can cause discomfort, irritation or urinary incontinence. It can feel like you’re sitting on something or cause a heaviness in your pelvis that affects your overall quality of life. Giving birth to large babies, frequently lifting heavy items or having a chronic cough or constipation can all increase your risk.

“But some women just get it,” Dr. Peacher says.

Sometimes, the symptoms don’t have an impact on your daily life, though that can change over time.

Providers may recommend pelvic floor therapy, which helps strengthen the muscles to better support the pelvic organs.

Another non-surgical option is the use of a pessary. It’s a soft silicone device that is inserted in the vagina and helps support organs that are prolapsed. It is a temporary solution because when you remove the pessary, the organs prolapse again. Patients must routinely visit their doctor so the device can be removed, cleaned and replaced.

There’s also a surgical option. Either vaginally or laparoscopically, your doctor can reconstruct the area so the organs are permanently supported. Sometimes, a hysterectomy to remove the uterus is performed at the same time.

“Prolapse is a common problem,” Dr. Peacher says. “Even after surgery, there may be underlying factors that led to the condition in the first place. This means there’s always a risk that the reconstruction may need to be revisited in the future, as the underlying problem could still be present.”

If you are experiencing symptoms, talk to your doctor about the best strategy for treatment to help improve your quality of life.