Help! My Doctor Says I Need Surgery

by Alyce Adams, RN, The Kegel Queen®

Has your doctor recommended surgery to treat your pelvic prolapse or incontinence?

Your first step: take a deep breath. Really, right now, take one — a nice, slow breath, in and out. There’s time.

Now that you’ve had a breath…

Having prolapse, or leaking pee, can be many things: embarrassing, upsetting, disturbing, uncomfortable, frightening. It can make it hard to do the things you want to do. It can make you feel out of control, or that you’re not the woman you want to be.

These pelvic health problems are real problems!

But there’s something prolapse and incontinence are not…

They are not an emergency. There’s no reason to rush into surgery.

I can’t give you medical advice. Only your doctor can do that. I can’t decide for you about surgery. Only you can do that. (You decide about surgery. Not your doctor — you!) Everything on this page is simply my opinion, shared here with you in an effort to help you get the information you need. You can see my full medical disclaimer here.

After helping over 3,749 women with their pelvic health, I’ve heard women say a lot of things about this type of surgery that just aren’t true. Let’s set the record straight.

Myth: Surgery will make my problems go away.
Fact: Surgery is a risk, not a guarantee.

Let’s start with prolapse. I've spoken with many women who had surgery, but months or years later, have prolapse again.

And on one memorable day at a seminar, I met one woman who had had prolapse repair surgery five times, and another woman whose mother had had six prolapse repair procedures.

A 2022 study analyzed 29 studies that looked at prolapse recurrence in thousands of women. The researchers found that 37.7% of women had prolapse recurrence after surgery.

And an earlier Cleveland Clinic study found that just one year after prolapse surgery, 58% of women had the prolapse recur.

There are multiple different surgical procedures used to address urinary incontinence. One popular procedure, colposuspension, has long-term failure rates from 17% to 56%.

And we haven’t even talked about the risks of surgery, like nerve damage and chronic pain — and even having brand-new incontinence you never had before.

Best-case scenario? An unpleasant, uncomfortable medical procedure, postoperative pain, and weeks or months of recovery. And afterwards, an ongoing risk of your problems returning.

Surgery may be the right choice for some women, but it’s not a free ride, and it’s not a guarantee. Not even close.

For more information, see reference list at the bottom of this page.

“I read all the stuff and foolishly had rectocele and enterocele repair in 2009 — oh the regret!! No incontinence but just horrendous bladder urethra sensitivity/pulling/rectal pain etc etc! HELP! I can never stand, sit, or drive without pain and discomfort.”


And here’s Betty. Betty said,

“I had prolapse surgery 6 months ago. Now I pee all over myself. Last week, there was poop in my panties, it was awful. What’s happening to me?!! I wish I never had this surgery.”


And if you google “vaginal mesh lawyers,” you know that surgery is a huge problem.

Russian roulette gives you better odds than prolapse or incontinence surgery.

Myth: If I have prolapse, it has to be “fixed.”
Fact: Research shows that kegel exercises can relieve prolapse symptoms and improve quality of life, and can even reverse prolapse stage (by one stage in women with stage I to III prolapse). There are more alternative non-surgical approaches for prolapse also, and we talk about these extensively in our Kegel Queen Program live Q&A sessions.

Can you improve your prolapse enough, or manage your prolapse well enough, that you can be active and comfortable, do the things you want to do, and get out and enjoy your life? Many Kegel Queen members choose to manage prolapse without surgery.

And by the way, sometimes doctors recommend surgery for prolapse even if the prolapse isn’t bothering you. That’s just plain crazy! Wise care for prolapse focuses on being active and living your best life, not on attempting to “fix” the prolapse at all costs.

Myth: A hysterectomy is no big deal if I’m done having kids.
Fact: A hysterectomy puts you at risk for bladder prolapse, vaginal vault prolapse, and a frightening list of other problems. Even if you eventually choose surgery, there are procedures that keep the uterus in place.

Myth: My gynecologist is the right person to do my surgery.
Fact: You are gambling with your health when you have prolapse or incontinence surgery, no matter who your surgeon is. But if you choose surgery, a surgeon who holds a fellowship in urogynecology will give you better odds than a garden-variety OB/GYN.

Myth: If my doctor says I need surgery, I have to do it.
Fact: You get to choose. Prolapse and incontinence are not life-threatening conditions. This type of surgery is elective surgery: your choice.

I’m a health educator. I’m not your doctor. I can’t give you medical advice. Your health care decisions are 100% yours to make, with the advice of your medical care team. But if you were my sister, this is what I would say to you:

  1. Breathe. This is not an emergency. You have time to figure this out.
  2. If you have a surgery date, you have the option to cancel it. You can schedule a new date later if you choose to, but once you have the surgery, you can never go back and undo it.
  3. Get the facts about surgery. Exactly what are the percent odds of recurrence and complications with the specific procedure you’re considering? What percent of surgeries fail at one year, five years, ten years? (As I mentioned above, surgical failures are common. Studies listed below report failure rates of 17% to 58%.)  
  4. Do absolutely everything you can to get better without surgery. Kegel exercises are an excellent option — only when you do kegels correctly, which in my experience with thousands of women is extremely rare, even for women who have worked with physical therapists. And kegels are only one of many ways to get help without surgery. Don’t just try one thing. Use absolutely every option available to you, and recognize that some techniques take time.

    In the Kegel Queen Program, many women find the “Prolapse Dos and Don’ts Checklist” and the “Urinary Incontinence Dos and Don’ts Checklist” especially helpful.

With correct kegel technique or other alternatives, you may see enough improvement that surgery is the furthest thing from your mind.

If you have given your all to every other option, and your problem is still so bad that you just can’t stand it, it’s still not time to rush into surgery. It’s never the right time to rush into this type of surgery!

If you’re still considering surgery after you have truly given your 100 percent effort to safer options, investigate your surgery options deliberately and carefully. (Don’t rush!)

Do your homework. Don’t say yes right away to the first doctor who wants to operate, or the first procedure they suggest. Find out what the different procedures are, and what the risks are for each one. Find out which surgeons, and which hospitals, have the best results. Ask hard questions about the odds of success, how long the procedure typically holds before it fails, and the frequency of specific complications. You may need to travel to find a surgeon who meets your standards. You will absolutely need to be your own advocate.

Nobody said dealing with the risk of surgery would be easy!

The Good News

The good news is that there are safe, simple alternatives that are supported by research — beginning with kegels. But watch out: so many women have no idea they are doing kegels wrong! Find out how to do one quality kegel, and get started today.

Alyce Adams, RN, is the Kegel Queen

Alyce is known as a sought-after kegel exercise expert around the world, helping women discover correct technique for real kegels. She is famous for creating the Kegel Success in Minutes a Day Program, the one-of-a-kind complete, no-devices, safe-at-home kegel exercise program created and tested by a Registered Nurse.

The Kegel Queen busts the kegel myths that hold women back — even if they've learned from a doctor, physical therapist, or childbirth teacher. Alyce’s programs are based on research that shows kegels can help urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse — with no annoying and inconvenient kegel devices, no drugs, and no ineffective and dangerous surgery. The Kegel Queen Program has reached over 3,749 women in 31 countries around the world. Find out how to do one quality kegel, and get started today!

Your Next Easy Step
Check out the Kegel Queen's new webinar: Pelvic prolapse & bladder control: How kegels, done correctly, can hold the key — and why bogus kegels will take you nowhere, even if you learned from a doctor, childbirth teacher, or physical therapist

You'll find out how to do one quality kegel, the first step to doing kegels right. Get started today!

GET FREE INFO NOW

REFERENCES

Bø K, Anglès-Acedo S, Batra A, Brækken IH, Chan YL, Jorge CH, Kruger J, Yadav M, Dumoulin C. International urogynecology consultation chapter 3 committee 2; conservative treatment of patient with pelvic organ prolapse: Pelvic floor muscle training. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Oct;33(10):2633-2667. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05324-0. Epub 2022 Aug 18. PMID: 35980443; PMCID: PMC9477909.

Bø K, Engh ME, Teig CJ, Tennfjord MK. Do Women with Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Receive Optimal First-Line Treatment? Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Jan;36(1):117-123. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05990-2. Epub 2024 Nov 11. PMID: 39527294; PMCID: PMC11785617.

Braekken IH, Majida M, Ellström Engh M, Bø K. Can pelvic floor muscle training improve sexual function in women with pelvic organ prolapse? A randomized controlled trial. J Sex Med. 2015 Feb;12(2):470-80. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12746. Epub 2014 Nov 17. PMID: 25401779.

Braekken IH, Majida M, Engh ME, Bø K. Can pelvic floor muscle training reverse pelvic organ prolapse and reduce prolapse symptoms? An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Aug;203(2):170.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.02.037. Epub 2010 May 1. PMID: 20435294.

Celenay ST, Karaaslan Y, Ozdemir E. Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Sexual Dysfunction, Sexual Satisfaction of Partners, Urinary Symptoms, and Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in Women With Overactive Bladder: A Randomized Controlled Study. J Sex Med. 2022 Sep;19(9):1421-1430. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.07.003. Epub 2022 Aug 5. PMID: 35934663.

Curillo-Aguirre CA, Gea-Izquierdo E. Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Quality of Life in Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 May 23;59(6):1004. doi: 10.3390/medicina59061004. PMID: 37374208; PMCID: PMC10301414.

Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Oct 4;10(10):CD005654. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4. PMID: 30288727; PMCID: PMC6516955.

Dumoulin C, Hunter KF, Moore K, Bradley CS, Burgio KL, Hagen S, Imamura M, Thakar R, Williams K, Chambers T. Conservative management for female urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse review 2013: Summary of the 5th International Consultation on Incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2016 Jan;35(1):15-20. doi: 10.1002/nau.22677. Epub 2014 Nov 15. PMID: 25400065.

Dumoulin C, Morin M, Danieli C, Cacciari L, Mayrand MH, Tousignant M, Abrahamowicz M; Urinary Incontinence and Aging Study Group. Group-Based vs Individual Pelvic Floor Muscle Training to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2020 Oct 1;180(10):1284-1293. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2993. PMID: 32744599; PMCID: PMC7400216.

Espiño-Albela A, Castaño-García C, Díaz-Mohedo E, Ibáñez-Vera AJ. Effects of Pelvic-Floor Muscle Training in Patients with Pelvic Organ Prolapse Approached with Surgery vs. Conservative Treatment: A Systematic Review. J Pers Med. 2022 May 17;12(5):806. doi: 10.3390/jpm12050806. PMID: 35629228; PMCID: PMC9142907.

Firet L, Teunissen TAM, Kool RB, Notten KJB, Lagro-Janssen ALM, van der Vaart H, Assendelft WJJ. Usage of a Web-Based eHealth Intervention for Women With Stress Urinary Incontinence: Mixed Methods Study. J Med Internet Res. 2022 Nov 17;24(11):e38255. doi: 10.2196/38255. PMID: 36394923; PMCID: PMC9716423.

Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener C, Dickson S, Barry S, Elders A, Frawley H, Galea MP, Logan J, McDonald A, McPherson G, Moore KH, Norrie J, Walker A, Wilson D; POPPY Trial Collaborators. Individualised pelvic floor muscle training in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POPPY): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2014 Mar 1;383(9919):796-806. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61977-7. Epub 2013 Nov 28. Erratum in: Lancet. 2014 Jul 5;384(9937):28. PMID: 24290404.

Hong JH, Choo MS, Lee KS. Long-term results of laparoscopic Burch colposuspension for stress urinary incontinence in women. J Korean Med Sci. 2009 Dec;24(6):1182-6. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2009.24.6.1182. Epub 2009 Nov 9. PMID: 19949679; PMCID: PMC2775871.

Karmakar D, Dwyer PL, Murray C, Schierlitz L, Dykes N, Zilberlicht A. Long-term effectiveness and safety of open Burch colposuspension vs retropubic midurethral sling for stress urinary incontinence-results from a large comparative study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Jun;224(6):593.e1-593.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.11.043. Epub 2020 Dec 13. PMID: 33316277.

Kjølhede P. Long-term efficacy of Burch colposuspension: a 14-year follow-up study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2005 Aug;84(8):767-72. doi: 10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00731.x. PMID: 16026403.

Laganà AS, La Rosa VL, Rapisarda AMC, Vitale SG. Pelvic organ prolapse: the impact on quality of life and psychological well-being. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2018 Jun;39(2):164-166. doi: 10.1080/0167482X.2017.1294155. Epub 2017 Mar 1. PMID: 28589780.

Le Berre M, Filiatrault J, Reichetzer B, Kairy D, Lachance C, Dumoulin C. Online Group-based Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: a Pilot Study. Int Urogynecol J. 2024 Apr;35(4):811-822. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05728-0. Epub 2024 Feb 5. PMID: 38315227.

Lowder JL, Ghetti C, Nikolajski C, Oliphant SS, Zyczynski HM. Body image perceptions in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a qualitative study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011 May;204(5):441.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.12.024. Epub 2011 Feb 2. PMID: 21292234. 

Marcellou EG, Stasi S, Giannopapas V, Bø K, Bakalidou D, Konstadoulakis M, Papathanasiou G. Effect of pelvic floor muscle training on urinary incontinence symptoms in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2025 Jan;304:134-140. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.11.040. Epub 2024 Nov 26. PMID: 39615241.

Miller JM, Ashton-Miller JA, DeLancey JO. A pelvic muscle precontraction can reduce cough-related urine loss in selected women with mild SUI. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1998 Jul;46(7):870-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1998.tb02721.x. PMID: 9670874.

Ouchi M, Kitta T, Kanno Y, Moriya K, Suzuki S, Shinohara N, Kato K. Medium-term follow-up after supervised pelvic floor muscle training for patients with anterior vaginal wall prolapse. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2018 Jun;225:95-100. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.04.015. Epub 2018 Apr 12. PMID: 29702450.

Peinado Molina RA, Hernández Martínez A, Martínez Vázquez S, Martínez Galiano JM. Influence of pelvic floor disorders on quality of life in women. Front Public Health. 2023 Oct 24;11:1180907. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1180907. PMID: 37942254; PMCID: PMC10629477.

Radzimińska A, Strączyńska A, Weber-Rajek M, Styczyńska H, Strojek K, Piekorz Z. The impact of pelvic floor muscle training on the quality of life of women with urinary incontinence: a systematic literature review. Clin Interv Aging. 2018 May 17;13:957-965. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S160057. PMID: 29844662; PMCID: PMC5962309.

Resende APM, Bernardes BT, Stüpp L, Oliveira E, Castro RA, Girão MJBC, Sartori MGF. Pelvic floor muscle training is better than hypopressive exercises in pelvic organ prolapse treatment: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. Neurourol Urodyn. 2019 Jan;38(1):171-179. doi: 10.1002/nau.23819. Epub 2018 Oct 12. PMID: 30311680.

Shi W, Guo L. Risk factors for the recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse: a meta-analysis. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2023 Dec;43(1):2160929. doi: 10.1080/01443615.2022.2160929. PMID: 36645334.

Wang T, Wen Z, Li M. The effect of pelvic floor muscle training for women with pelvic organ prolapse: a meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Jul;33(7):1789-1801. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05139-z. Epub 2022 Mar 21. PMID: 35312800.

Whiteside JL, Weber AM, Meyn LA, Walters MD. Risk factors for prolapse recurrence after vaginal repair. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Nov;191(5):1533-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2004.06.109. PMID: 15547521.

References

Bø K, Anglès-Acedo S, Batra A, Brækken IH, Chan YL, Jorge CH, Kruger J, Yadav M, Dumoulin C. International urogynecology consultation chapter 3 committee 2; conservative treatment of patient with pelvic organ prolapse: Pelvic floor muscle training. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Oct;33(10):2633-2667. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05324-0. Epub 2022 Aug 18. PMID: 35980443; PMCID: PMC9477909.

Bø K, Engh ME, Teig CJ, Tennfjord MK. Do Women with Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Receive Optimal First-Line Treatment? Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Jan;36(1):117-123. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05990-2. Epub 2024 Nov 11. PMID: 39527294; PMCID: PMC11785617.

Braekken IH, Majida M, Ellström Engh M, Bø K. Can pelvic floor muscle training improve sexual function in women with pelvic organ prolapse? A randomized controlled trial. J Sex Med. 2015 Feb;12(2):470-80. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12746. Epub 2014 Nov 17. PMID: 25401779.

Braekken IH, Majida M, Engh ME, Bø K. Can pelvic floor muscle training reverse pelvic organ prolapse and reduce prolapse symptoms? An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Aug;203(2):170.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.02.037. Epub 2010 May 1. PMID: 20435294.

Celenay ST, Karaaslan Y, Ozdemir E. Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Sexual Dysfunction, Sexual Satisfaction of Partners, Urinary Symptoms, and Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in Women With Overactive Bladder: A Randomized Controlled Study. J Sex Med. 2022 Sep;19(9):1421-1430. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.07.003. Epub 2022 Aug 5. PMID: 35934663.

Curillo-Aguirre CA, Gea-Izquierdo E. Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Quality of Life in Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 May 23;59(6):1004. doi: 10.3390/medicina59061004. PMID: 37374208; PMCID: PMC10301414.

Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Oct 4;10(10):CD005654. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4. PMID: 30288727; PMCID: PMC6516955.

Dumoulin C, Hunter KF, Moore K, Bradley CS, Burgio KL, Hagen S, Imamura M, Thakar R, Williams K, Chambers T. Conservative management for female urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse review 2013: Summary of the 5th International Consultation on Incontinence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2016 Jan;35(1):15-20. doi: 10.1002/nau.22677. Epub 2014 Nov 15. PMID: 25400065.

Dumoulin C, Morin M, Danieli C, Cacciari L, Mayrand MH, Tousignant M, Abrahamowicz M; Urinary Incontinence and Aging Study Group. Group-Based vs Individual Pelvic Floor Muscle Training to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2020 Oct 1;180(10):1284-1293. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.2993. PMID: 32744599; PMCID: PMC7400216.

Espiño-Albela A, Castaño-García C, Díaz-Mohedo E, Ibáñez-Vera AJ. Effects of Pelvic-Floor Muscle Training in Patients with Pelvic Organ Prolapse Approached with Surgery vs. Conservative Treatment: A Systematic Review. J Pers Med. 2022 May 17;12(5):806. doi: 10.3390/jpm12050806. PMID: 35629228; PMCID: PMC9142907.

Firet L, Teunissen TAM, Kool RB, Notten KJB, Lagro-Janssen ALM, van der Vaart H, Assendelft WJJ. Usage of a Web-Based eHealth Intervention for Women With Stress Urinary Incontinence: Mixed Methods Study. J Med Internet Res. 2022 Nov 17;24(11):e38255. doi: 10.2196/38255. PMID: 36394923; PMCID: PMC9716423.

Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener C, Dickson S, Barry S, Elders A, Frawley H, Galea MP, Logan J, McDonald A, McPherson G, Moore KH, Norrie J, Walker A, Wilson D; POPPY Trial Collaborators. Individualised pelvic floor muscle training in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POPPY): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2014 Mar 1;383(9919):796-806. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61977-7. Epub 2013 Nov 28. Erratum in: Lancet. 2014 Jul 5;384(9937):28. PMID: 24290404.

Laganà AS, La Rosa VL, Rapisarda AMC, Vitale SG. Pelvic organ prolapse: the impact on quality of life and psychological well-being. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2018 Jun;39(2):164-166. doi: 10.1080/0167482X.2017.1294155. Epub 2017 Mar 1. PMID: 28589780.

Le Berre M, Filiatrault J, Reichetzer B, Kairy D, Lachance C, Dumoulin C. Online Group-based Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Urinary Incontinence in Older Women: a Pilot Study. Int Urogynecol J. 2024 Apr;35(4):811-822. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05728-0. Epub 2024 Feb 5. PMID: 38315227.

Lowder JL, Ghetti C, Nikolajski C, Oliphant SS, Zyczynski HM. Body image perceptions in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a qualitative study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011 May;204(5):441.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.12.024. Epub 2011 Feb 2. PMID: 21292234. 

Marcellou EG, Stasi S, Giannopapas V, Bø K, Bakalidou D, Konstadoulakis M, Papathanasiou G. Effect of pelvic floor muscle training on urinary incontinence symptoms in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2025 Jan;304:134-140. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.11.040. Epub 2024 Nov 26. PMID: 39615241.

Miller JM, Ashton-Miller JA, DeLancey JO. A pelvic muscle precontraction can reduce cough-related urine loss in selected women with mild SUI. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1998 Jul;46(7):870-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1998.tb02721.x. PMID: 9670874.

Ouchi M, Kitta T, Kanno Y, Moriya K, Suzuki S, Shinohara N, Kato K. Medium-term follow-up after supervised pelvic floor muscle training for patients with anterior vaginal wall prolapse. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2018 Jun;225:95-100. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.04.015. Epub 2018 Apr 12. PMID: 29702450.

Peinado Molina RA, Hernández Martínez A, Martínez Vázquez S, Martínez Galiano JM. Influence of pelvic floor disorders on quality of life in women. Front Public Health. 2023 Oct 24;11:1180907. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1180907. PMID: 37942254; PMCID: PMC10629477.

Radzimińska A, Strączyńska A, Weber-Rajek M, Styczyńska H, Strojek K, Piekorz Z. The impact of pelvic floor muscle training on the quality of life of women with urinary incontinence: a systematic literature review. Clin Interv Aging. 2018 May 17;13:957-965. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S160057. PMID: 29844662; PMCID: PMC5962309.

Resende APM, Bernardes BT, Stüpp L, Oliveira E, Castro RA, Girão MJBC, Sartori MGF. Pelvic floor muscle training is better than hypopressive exercises in pelvic organ prolapse treatment: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. Neurourol Urodyn. 2019 Jan;38(1):171-179. doi: 10.1002/nau.23819. Epub 2018 Oct 12. PMID: 30311680.

Wang T, Wen Z, Li M. The effect of pelvic floor muscle training for women with pelvic organ prolapse: a meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Jul;33(7):1789-1801. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05139-z. Epub 2022 Mar 21. PMID: 35312800.


Bø K, Anglès-Acedo S, Batra A, Brækken IH, Chan YL, Jorge CH, Kruger J, Yadav M, Dumoulin C. International urogynecology consultation chapter 3 committee 2; conservative treatment of patient with pelvic organ prolapse: Pelvic floor muscle training. Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Oct;33(10):2633-2667. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05324-0. Epub 2022 Aug 18. PMID: 35980443; PMCID: PMC9477909.

Bø K, Engh ME, Teig CJ, Tennfjord MK. Do Women with Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Receive Optimal First-Line Treatment? Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Jan;36(1):117-123. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05990-2. Epub 2024 Nov 11. PMID: 39527294; PMCID: PMC11785617.

Braekken IH, Majida M, Ellström Engh M, Bø K. Can pelvic floor muscle training improve sexual function in women with pelvic organ prolapse? A randomized controlled trial. J Sex Med. 2015 Feb;12(2):470-80. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12746. Epub 2014 Nov 17. PMID: 25401779.

Braekken IH, Majida M, Engh ME, Bø K. Can pelvic floor muscle training reverse pelvic organ prolapse and reduce prolapse symptoms? An assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Aug;203(2):170.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.02.037. Epub 2010 May 1. PMID: 20435294.

Celenay ST, Karaaslan Y, Ozdemir E. Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Sexual Dysfunction, Sexual Satisfaction of Partners, Urinary Symptoms, and Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in Women With Overactive Bladder: A Randomized Controlled Study. J Sex Med. 2022 Sep;19(9):1421-1430. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.07.003. Epub 2022 Aug 5. PMID: 35934663.

Curillo-Aguirre CA, Gea-Izquierdo E. Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Quality of Life in Women with Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 May 23;59(6):1004. doi: 10.3390/medicina59061004. PMID: 37374208; PMCID: PMC10301414.

Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Oct 4;10(10):CD005654. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4. PMID: 30288727; PMCID: PMC6516955.

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