 [ Symptoms ] my mom and her sisters had pelvic organ prolapse can i do anything to prevent it happening to me [ Disease ] we cannot change our genetics age or number of vaginal births sadly there are not many scientific studies testing different forms of pelvic organ prolapse prevention the strategies for prevention that are most often suggested include kegel exercises up to four times daily the hope is that by strengthening muscles in the pelvic floor that those muscles can help delay or reduce the onset of prolapse physical exercise regular exercise can help keep one is body weight down and being overweight is linked to prolapse exercise is also reputed to keep muscles and ligaments more flexible decrease straining to have a bowel movement constipation or having to bear down increases pressure in the abdomen which pushes down on pelvic organs eating a healthy diet with whole grains fruits and vegetable not only helps constipation but can improve body weight treat chronic coughs if one is a smoker    quit if there is another reason for a chronic cough    have it treated a cough increases the pressure inside the abdomen which can push down on pelvic organs there are studies linking smoking with poorer tissue integrity after pelvic organ prolapse repair use a correct technique for heavy lifting straining to lift increases pressure within the abdomen hysterectomy surgery considerations if one is having a hysterectomy there are studies which suggest that attaching the uterine ligaments to the top of the vagina may help to keep the vagina from dropping down