Bladder Prolapse

If you are experiencing a feeling of pressure or a noticeable bulge in your vaginal area, difficulty urinating, or pain during intercourse, your bladder may have shifted out of its normal anatomical position.
Bladder prolapse—also referred to as a cystocele or fallen bladder—is a very common condition among women. While the symptoms can be uncomfortable and disruptive, it is highly treatable. At UroPartners, our specialized care team offers compassionate, comprehensive care tailored to restoring your physical comfort, confidence, and quality of life.

                                                                              

What is bladder prolapse?

Under normal conditions, a woman's bladder is supported by a strong "hammock" of pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue. When these supportive tissues stretch, weaken, or tear, the bladder can drop and bulge through this layer into the vaginal canal.
In mild cases, the bulge remains inside the vagina. In more severe cases, the prolapsed tissue can reach or protrude beyond the vaginal opening.

Symptoms

Some mild cases of bladder prolapse cause no symptoms at all. However, many women experience signs that impact their daily routines:

  • Pelvic & Vaginal Pressure: A distinct sensation of heaviness, fullness, or pulling in the pelvis, lower abdomen, groin, or lower back.
  • A Visual or Physical Bulge: Tissue near or protruding from the vaginal opening that can be seen or felt, which may feel tender or irritated.
  • Urinary Changes: Frequent urges to urinate, involuntary leaking (urinary incontinence), frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), or feeling as though your bladder never fully empties.
  • Painful Intercourse: Discomfort or pain during sexual activity.

Note: If left untreated, severe prolapse can occasionally block urine flow from the kidneys, leading to urinary retention, severe infection, or kidney strain. Early evaluation ensures your safety and comfort..

Causes

Prolapse develops when long-term pressure or strain weakens the pelvic floor. Primary contributing factors include:

  • Childbirth & Pregnancy: Vaginal deliveries, multiple pregnancies, or long, difficult labor.
  • Chronic Physical Strain: Heavy lifting, persistent coughing, chronic constipation, or frequent straining during bowel movements.
  • Hormonal Changes: Decreased estrogen levels during and after menopause.
  • Anatomical & Health Factors: Previous pelvic surgeries, obesity, or natural tissue changes associated with aging.

Diagnosis

At UroPartners, diagnosis begins with a private clinical consultation and a physical pelvic exam. Your specialist may evaluate you while lying down, standing, or straining to measure the degree of prolapse accurately.

To assess your pelvic floor function and urine flow fully, your doctor may recommend specialized, in-office diagnostic testing:

  • Cystoscopy: A visual evaluation of the inside of your bladder and urethra.
  • Urodynamic Testing: Advanced testing to measure bladder pressure, capacity, and flow.
  • Pelvic Imaging: Targeted ultrasounds, X-rays, or MRIs to visualize surrounding pelvic structures.
 
 

Treatment

How is Bladder Prolapse Treated?

We tailor your treatment plan to the severity of your symptoms, your lifestyle, and your overall health goals. We emphasize conservative, non-surgical approaches whenever appropriate.

Conservative Management

  • Observation: If your prolapse is mild, symptom-free, and not blocking urine flow, treatment may not be necessary. We will monitor your condition during regular check-ups.
  • Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation: Targeted Kegel exercises and specialized pelvic floor physical therapy to rebuild muscle support.
  • Pessary Devices: A removable, custom-fitted silicone support ring inserted vaginally to hold the bladder in place comfortably.
  • Estrogen Therapy: Topical or systemic estrogen treatments to help strengthen thinned pelvic tissues in postmenopausal women

 

Surgery

When conservative options are insufficient or symptoms significantly interfere with your daily life, surgical repair can restore your pelvic anatomy. Surgery can be performed vaginally or abdominally using your own natural tissue (native tissue repair) or biological graft materials.

  • Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery: Using small abdominal incisions, laparoscopic or robotic-assisted techniques allow surgeons to repair and secure pelvic structures with exceptional precision, resulting in less pain and faster recovery.
  • Vaginal Prolapse Repair: Surgical reconstruction performed directly through the vagina, avoiding abdominal incisions entirely.
  • Open Surgery: Traditional abdominal repair reserved for complex cases.

Prior to any procedure, your UroPartners surgeon will walk you through an in-depth conversation covering the risks, benefits, and expected outcomes so you can make an informed decision with complete confidence.

Content provided courtesy & permission of the American
 Urological Association Foundation, and is current as of 9/2026. 
Visit us at www.urologyhealth.org for additional information.