A cystocele is a type of pelvic organ prolapse that allows your vaginal wall and bladder to protrude into your vagina. In a grade 2 cystocele, your bladder prolapses into the vaginal opening.
What is Cystocele?
A cystocele is a condition in which the supporting ligaments and muscles that surround and hold your bladder and vaginal wall become stretched or weakened. This causes your bladder to prolapse into your vagina. This is a type of pelvic organ prolapse.
Other names for cystocele (SIS-tuh-seel) are:
- Prolapsed bladder.
- Herniated bladder.
- Fallen bladder.
What are the Types of Cystocele?
There are three degrees of cystocele:
- Grade 1 (mild). Your bladder falls only a short way into your vagina.
- Grade 2 (medium). Your bladder falls into or slightly outside the opening of your vagina.
- Grade 3 (severe). Your bladder is too far past the opening of your vagina.
How serious is a cystocele?
A mild cystocele may only cause discomfort or may cause you to accidentally leak urine (incontinence). A severe cystocele prevents you from urinating. This can lead to infection or kidney damage.
How Common Is Cystocele?
Cystoceles are common. Medical experts estimate that 50% of women have some degree of cystocele.
What are the Symptoms of Cystocele?
Symptoms of cystocele may include
- Feeling or seeing something bulging from your vaginal opening.
- A feeling of fullness, heaviness or pain in your pelvic area. This feeling can get worse when you stand, lift heavy objects, cough or get worse as the day goes on.
- Going to the toilet more than usual.
- Difficulty emptying your bladder completely when urinating.
- Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
- Difficulty inserting menstrual products, including tampons and menstrual cups.
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