The quality of life of millions of women is negatively affected by pelvic organ prolapse, which causes symptoms such as urinary incontinence. In women with POP, the main supportive structures of the uterus and vagina, the uterosacral ligaments, are attenuated. Now, mouse studies have shown that the Hoxa11 gene makes a molecular factor essential for USL development, leading to the suggestion that changes in HOXA11-regulated pathways might weaken USLs and thereby cause POP.