Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists

What Are the Causes of Cystocele?

BY CHEROKEE WOMEN’S HEALTH SPECIALISTS, PC

Prolapsed bladder, also known as cystocele, is a condition where the bladder drops because of lack of support. Due to a variety of reasons, the pelvic floor muscles and tissues can weaken over time, causing the bladder to descend.

There are multiple causes of prolapse; the most common is childbirth, especially with a long or difficult labor, a large baby or multiple births. Other causes include heavy lifting or straining, menopause (when the body no longer produces estrogen), and obesity, which puts additional strain on pelvic muscles and tissue.

When the bladder prolapse is mild, women may not experience any symptoms, and the condition may be discovered only during a routine examination. But many women do experience these common symptoms and more: • A sensation of pressure in the bladder or vagina. • Leakage of urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc. • Frequent bladder infections. • A sensation that the bladder is not completely empty right after urinating. • Difficulty urinating. • Pelvic pain or discomfort. • Lower back pain.

If you notice that you may have any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. A prolapsed bladder usually worsens over time, but, thanks to modern methods, it can be fixed.

Your doctor can categorize the degree of prolapse as mild, moderate, severe or complete. If it is mild, it usually requires no immediate treatment other than to refrain from heavy lifting or exertion. For more serious cases, depending on health, age and other factors, nonsurgical treatments such as the use of a device called a pessary to hold the bladder in the correct position, estrogen replacement therapy, electrical stimulation and more are available. In severe cases, surgery often is the best option.

While there is no guarantee that bladder prolapse can completely be prevented, there are some things you can do to help reduce the chances of it occurring, including: • Maintaining a healthy weight. • Eating fiber to prevent constipation. • Refraining from smoking. (Chronic coughing contributes to bladder prolapse.) • Training your bladder by trying to maintain a regular schedule of set times for urination. • Doing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.

Prolapsed bladder and its effects can be uncomfortable, restrictive and inhibit a normal lifestyle. It’s important to go to a highly trained gynecology specialist to address these issues so you can get back to living the life you deserve.

Cherokee Women’s Health Specialists, PC has six OB-GYNs and five midlevel providers, with offices in Canton and Woodstock.