A cystocele means your bladder has fallen into your vagina, in other words a prolapsed bladder. The root cause of this fallen bladder related health condition is weakened and stretched supportive muscles between the two, so your bladder bulges into the vagina.
The most common symptom of cystocele is urine leakage. A mild prolapse typically only causes leaks with bladder pressure, for instance when you cough, sneeze, laugh, heavy lifting, bear down, during physical activity, move in a certain way or during sexual intercourse.
Other symptoms that could be caused by a cystocele are:
- full feeling
- pelvic pressure
- lower back pain
- difficult urination
- frequent urination
- painful intercourse
- recurrent bladder infections
- uncontrollable incontinence
- incomplete bladder emptying
- vaginal pain, pressure or bulge
- feels as if you’re sitting on something
Yet, a mild case of a prolapsed bladder may not cause any noticeable symptoms.
There are several factors that can contribute to your urine leakage risk of a cystocele, like:
- hysterectomy
- overweight or obese
- repetitive heavy lifting
- chronic cough, bronchitis
- menopausal caused hormone deficiency of estrogen
- genetically caused weak pelvic floor muscles & ligaments
- chronic constipation causing strain during bowel movements
- intense pelvic pressure, muscle straining ~ pregnancy, vaginal childbirth
For a mild to moderate case of urine leakage caused by a fallen bladder, non surgical treatment is usually all that’s necessary.
One form of treatment that doesn’t require repair is the use of a pessary. A pessary is a ring that you’ll insert into your vagina to support your bladder, which must be removed routinely to ward off vaginal infections or ulcers. And sometimes, a large tampon or vaginal diaphragm can function as well as a pessary.
Other non-surgical measures for discouraging your urine leakage are:
- lose weight
- control coughing
- treat constipation
- hormone replacement therapy
- avoid heavy lifting or straining
- Kegel exercises using biofeedback to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles
Severe cases of cystocele might require repair surgery.
Surgical repair treatment involves putting your fallen bladder back into its proper place, then tightening muscles and ligaments of your pelvic floor. This repair surgery is not typically done until other forms of treatment have failed or your prolapsed bladder causes extreme discomfort.
After repair surgery treatment of a cystocele, it’ll take about a month before you can resume normal activities. And some need another round of repair surgery or pessary use should their bladder fall again.