Bladder Prolapse & Pelvic Pain

The walls of the vagina support the bladder, uterus and other organs. Oftentimes after childbirth the muscles of the vagina can tear and stretch. This can cause a prolapsed bladder. When this happens, the bladder falls out of its normal position in the abdomen and can cause discomfort.

Risk Factors

• The most common causes of bladder prolapse are childbirth and menopause. During menopause estrogen levels drop and can cause the walls to weaken. Women who have previously had children and are going through menopause are at the greatest risk.

Symptoms

• Urine leakage is a common symptom of a dropped bladder, which can be caused from coughing, laughing and any other activity that may cause pressure on the abdomen. It is common to feel pressure, and if any bladder tissue is exposed through your vaginal opening, it can become raw and painful. You may also experience pain during sexual intercourse.

Diagnosis

• To diagnose bladder prolapse, a vaginal exam is required. Your doctor may ask you to push or cough to get a better look at the severity of your prolapse.

Treatment

• The least invasive treatment is doing kegel exercises, but that is only for mild cases. Another option is having a doctor insert a pessary that helps hold up the vaginal walls. Surgery may be required in more serious cases. Surgery can be performed using a less invasive method known as laparoscopy.

Prevention

• The easiest thing you can do to prevent bladder prolapse is doing kegel exercises. Women who have not had children but may be going through menopause would best benefit from this.