Prolapsed bladder, also called cystocele, is when the wall between the bladder and vagina weakens and stretches. This allows the bladder to bulge into the vagina, causing symptoms including discomfort when straining, a feeling of fullness in the pelvis, recurrent bladder infections, pain during sexual intercourse, stress incontinence and bulging tissue. If you experience any of these symptoms, visit your doctor to discuss treatment.
Discomfort
Because prolapsed bladder is caused by a weakening of muscles that support the bladder, one symptom of prolapsed bladder is discomfort when these muscles are used. According to the Mayo Clinic, discomfort can be experienced when coughing, straining, lifting, or bearing down.
Pelvic Fullness
Physicians from the Mayo Clinic list a feeling of fullness in the vagina or pelvis as one of the symptoms of a prolapsed bladder. This symptom often becomes worse when someone with prolapsed bladder stands for a long period of time. The feeling of fullness may be caused by bladder tissue bulging into the vagina due to the weakened support muscles.
Bulging Tissue
Physicians from the Women's Continence Center at The University of California San Francisco list a bulging of tissue in the vagina as one of the symptoms of a prolapsed bladder. This bulging tissue is the part of the bladder that has fallen due to the prolapse. According to physicians from the Mayo Clinic, this tissue bulge may go away when someone with bladder prolapse lies down.
Bladder Infection
The Mayo Clinic cites recurrent bladder infections as one of the symptoms of a prolapsed bladder. These infections can occur because bacteria are able to enter the urinary tract more easily when the pelvic floor muscles are weakened. Persistent bladder infections may require treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Pain During Intercourse
Because bladder prolapse can cause bladder tissue to fall into the vaginal canal, people with this condition may experience pain during sexual intercourse. This pain may present as a sharp pain or a burning sensation upon penetration. Seek medical attention if painful sexual intercourse becomes a persistent problem.
Stress Incontinence
Dr. Matthew Robinson, a urologist at The Urology Place in Nassau Bay, Texas, states that problems with incontinence are one of the symptoms of a prolapsed bladder. Incontinence can present as the dribbling of urine or inability to hold urine between trips to the bathroom. This is caused by the loss of muscle control that accompanies a prolapsed bladder.
