It’s a valid question. If you’re considering undergoing major surgery for prolapse, you want to know the chance of improvement or resolution of your symptoms. Here’s the tricky part: before we can break down the success rates, we have to define what “success” actually means.
What Is Considered A Successful Outcome After Prolapse Surgery?
Success in older research studies was defined strictly by anatomical improvement. The patient outcomes were deemed successful if the prolapse was completely resolved after the repair. That means the severity of prolapse was graded as stage 0 or 1 on the POP-Q scale.
The difficulty with this success indicator is that a large number of women still have a visible prolapse bulge after the surgery. Even more challenging is the fact that the prolapse stage is not correlated with symptom severity. In other words, just because your anatomy looks “better” on paper doesn’t always mean you feel better.
Other studies define success by symptom relief: no more bulge sensation, fewer bladder and bowel issues, improved comfort with intimacy, or being able to exercise without symptoms. This is a much better indicator of success because it values the person and their perception as to whether the surgery was efficacious.
This is why asking about “success rates” is more complicated than it sounds. Success can mean different things to different people, and it’s important to know what definition is being used before quoting statistics.
Setting Your Goals Before Prolapse Surgery
One of the most important steps before deciding on surgery is clarifying your personal goals. Ask yourself:
- Do I want to reduce the stage of my prolapse?
- Do I want to become symptom-free?
- Do I want to return to work, exercise, or intimacy without discomfort?
Having clarity around your goals matters because it sets realistic expectations. Prolapse surgery might improve anatomy without completely eliminating symptoms—or the reverse.
When you know your priorities, it makes surgical decisions easier and conversations with your surgeon more productive.
Prolapse Surgery Recurrence Rates
The second most common question I hear is: Will my prolapse come back after surgery?
This is where recurrence rates come in. But keep in mind:
- Different procedures have different recurrence rates
- Different doctors have varying recurrence/success rates
- An individual’s medical history greatly influences recurrence including: levator ani avulsions, hypermobility disorders, unresolved chronic constipation, chronic cough, etc.
- Surgeons use different definitions of “recurrence.” Most surgeons are not following their patients long-term so they cannot confidently claim their procedures have 20 year success rates
- Hormone status is an important consideration because someone in menopause who has not used hormone replacements has lower quality vaginal tissues than someone in their late 30s
Understanding the nuances helps you approach surgery realistically, knowing it may not be a once-in-a-lifetime fix.
Prolapse Surgery and Quality of Life
Prolapse is about more than the visible bulge. It can impact your bladder and bowel health, your sex life, your ability to lift, run, or even just go about daily tasks comfortably.
Arguably the most important questions to ask is: Will surgery improve my quality of life?
For many people, the answer is yes. Research on quality of life after prolapse surgery shows improvements in daily function, comfort, and confidence. But what matters most is how you personally define quality of life—it could mean playing with your kids without leaking, exercising without pressure, or simply feeling like yourself again.
Why Choose Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
Not everyone jumps straight to surgery. Many people try pelvic floor physical therapy, lifestyle strategies, or pessaries first. Prolapse can often be well managed conservatively with the right exercises, diet changes, and pressure management considerations. A well experienced physical therapist can guide you in these strategies.
Even so, some women have tried everything, and are still bothered by their prolapse symptoms. Maybe pessaries don’t fit your anatomy, or they just don’t feel right for you. Or maybe you’re simply tired of dealing with prolapse and want a more definitive option.
Choosing surgery isn’t a failure—it’s just another tool to restore function and improve your quality of life.
The Bottom Line on POP Surgery
There’s no universal definition of success in prolapse surgery. The numbers can give you part of the story, but what really matters is:
- How YOU define success for yourself
- Whether your goals align with the procedure being recommended
- What the research says about recurrence rates and quality of life improvements
Before making a decision about pelvic organ prolapse surgery, take time to:
- Define your goals
- Understand the definitions behind the statistics
- Ask your surgeon about both short- and long-term outcomes
- And always—get multiple opinions
You deserve to feel informed and empowered as you make this decision for your body, your health, and your quality of life.
