Jacqui Lambie has spoken out about vaginal prolapse. What is it – and how common is it?

Senator Jacqui Lambie. Vaginal prolapse is rarely talked about publicly, despite the condition affecting thousands of Australians. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has previously spoken out about her experience of vaginal prolapse and the financial burden military veterans can face in accessing treatment for it. On Monday, Labor and crossbenchers expressed their support for the senator, as she condemned a recent One Nation cartoon that mocked her for having the condition.

The chief executive of national women’s health nonprofit Jean Hailes, Dr Sarah White, said mockery of a health condition like vaginal prolapse was “absolutely not OK”.