Prolapsed bladder, also called cystocele or fallen bladder, is a medical condition that affects the bladder and vagina. In this condition, the muscles of the pelvic floor weaken and allow the bladder to fall from its proper position. Because prolapsed bladder can cause uncomfortable symptoms that affect sexual function and the ability to control urinary function, proper treatment is important.
Definition
Physicians from the Mayo Clinic define a prolapsed bladder as a weakening and stretching of the wall between the bladder and the vagina. When this muscular wall weakens, it allows the bladder to protrude into the vagina.
Causes
Prolapsed bladder is caused by a weakening of the muscles and ligaments that support the bladder. According to Dr. Matthew Johnson, urologist at The Urology Place in Nassau Bay, Texas, this weakening can be caused by obesity, childbirth, previous pelvic surgery, frequent lifting of heavy objects, coughing and menopause.
Signs and Symptoms
Physicians at the Mayo Clinic list urinary incontinence, recurrent bladder infections, pain during sexual intercourse, leakage of urine during sexual intercourse, discomfort when straining or coughing, a feeling of fullness in the vagina and a bulge of tissue in the vagina as symptoms of a prolapsed bladder.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of a prolapsed bladder is made through a physical examination and the use of a test called a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). Information from the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse indicates that doctors can identify a grade 2 or 3 prolapse during a pelvic exam because bladder tissue will be bulging into the vagina. During a VCUG, X-rays are taken while a patient urinates. These X-rays can reveal the presence of a prolapse and allow doctors to determine its severity.
Treatment
Mild prolapses that cause few symptoms are treated with home care exercises designed to strengthen the weakened muscles. More severe prolapses may be treated with a pessary, estrogen therapy or surgery. A pessary is a device inserted into the vagina to push the bladder back in place and help it stay in position. Estrogen therapy can be used in women who have already reached menopause to strengthen the muscles that have weakened and stretched. Surgery is used only for severe prolapses that cause frequent discomfort. During this procedure, the bladder is elevated to its proper place and a surgeon tightens the muscles and ligaments that support the pelvic floor.
