A prolapsed bladder, or cystocele, occurs when a woman's bladder protrudes into or through the vagina. Varying degrees of the condition occur from the bladder slightly dropping into the vagina, to a severe condition whereby the vagina protrudes through the vaginal opening. MayoClinic.com reports the most common cause of a prolapsed bladder is vaginal childbirth. Additional causes include constipation, obesity and heavy lifting. Treatment methods depend on the severity of the prolapse and vary from self-care measures to surgical intervention.
Kegel Exercises
Women may strengthen the pelvic floor muscles by performing daily Kegel exercises. Besides the bladder, the pelvic muscles also support the uterus and bowel. Initially, women may practice starting and stopping the flow of urine to locate the pelvic muscles. MayoClinic.com also suggests that women sit on the floor and insert a finger into the vaginal canal and attempt to tighten the muscles around the finger. Once the correct procedure to perform Kegel exercises is identified the activity can be discreetly practiced almost anywhere---sitting at a desk, driving or while watching TV. A woman should tighten her pelvic muscles for five seconds and then relax the muscles. Initially five Kegels held for five seconds is ideal. MayoClinic.com suggests a goal of 10 Kegel exercises held for 10 seconds. Kegel exercises should not be practiced when urine is in the bladder.
Pessary
A vaginal pessary pushes the bladder back into proper position. The plastic or rubber device is inserted into the vaginal canal. According to MayoClinic.com, an alternative to the medical device is a diaphragm or using tampons. Some women use a pessary to avoid invasive surgery. Women may require the pessary for several years. The device comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Still, the pessary must be removed on occasion to avoid developing infections, ulcers and other complications, advises the Cleveland Clinic.
Surgery
An invasive procedure to repair the prolapsed bladder is an elective surgery, reports Cleveland Clinic. The prolapsed portion of the bladder is repositioned; scar or excess tissue is removed. The vaginal walls are also tightened during the reconstruction. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a woman may require hospitalization for several days, and full recovery takes between four and six weeks. Though the results of the surgery may last for several years, there is a risk of the bladder prolapsing in the future, reports MayoClinic.com.
