Prolapse of the bladder, also known as cystocele, occurs when the ligaments and muscles that hold up your bladder stretch or weaken. It can lead to difficulty urinating, urinary incontinence and pain when inserting a tampon or having sex.
What are the symptoms of cystocele?
Symptoms of cystocele include:
Feeling something bulging through your vaginal opening.
A feeling of fullness, heaviness or pain in your pelvic area.
Urinating more than usual.
Urinary incontinence.
Difficulty fully emptying your bladder.
Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Difficulty or pain when inserting tampons or menstrual cups or when having sex.
How is cystocele diagnosed?
Your Hoag doctor can diagnose cystocele using a physical examination and through tests, such as:
Urodynamic testing, which measures your bladder’s ability to hold and release pee.
Cystoscopy, a test involving inserting a long, pencil-sized lighted tube with a camera on the end through your urethra to your bladder. Your doctor will use this scope to look for malformations, blockages, tumors or stones in your urinary tract.
How is cystocele treated?
Cystocele can be treated with:
Lifestyle adjustments, such as weight loss
Estrogen replacement therapy
Pelvic floor therapy or exercises, such as Kegel exercises.
A vaginal pessary device.
Surgery to tighten the muscles that hold your bladder in place.