Conditions
Cystocele
A cystocele is a fallen bladder, which occurs when the wall between a woman’s bladder and her vagina is torn by childbirth, resulting in the bladder bulging or dropping towards the vagina. Cases range from mild to severe and treatment usually depends on the severity of the condition. A mild cystocele, which may be noticed by a physician or nurse, but hasn’t bothered the patient, doesn’t necessarily require treatment. However, in cases of moderate and severe prolapse, symptoms can be bothersome and can lead to women experiencing difficulties emptying their bladder, as well as feeling of pressure in the pelvis and vagina, especially when bearing down. This can lead to repeated bladder infections, urinary incontinence and pain during sex. Prevention is often better than cure, and the chances of a prolapse occurring can be reduced by doing regular pelvic floor exercises, treating and preventing constipation, avoiding too much weight gain, and ensuring that the man in your life does all the heavy lifting!
Comments
You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments are reviewed before they are published.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
hi, i am 30 and i have a son who is 7…....over d last year i have been feelin a lot of pressure down below. it feels like everything is going to pop out. its impossible to sit down as its painful. i have done a self examination and things dont look right. its like i have a lump blockin the entrance to d vagina. what is this as im a little embarassed to go to gp. i want to have another child but i feel alot of pain durin intercourse…..please help
hiya,is the uretha in a female inside the vagina. i think i can see mine when i self examine and bear down. is this right?please help.
I am 68 years old and two years ago had a "vacuum type" hysterectomy. Since then I have had one infection after another (never suffered before) and now have a cystocele which is most uncomfortable. I am just wondering if anyone on this website has come across the same problem after a hysterectomy? I have heard of one other person. The doc is going to give me pelvic floor exercises. I somehow dont think they are going to work!
i had a scrap and a coil fitted 6 days ago, i am due to return to work tommorow, but today i have noticed i sort of swelling in the entrance to my vagina. I have looked at the picturs of the prolapse, but mine does not seem as bad as that, but i am finding today that it doesn't matter how often i go to the toilet, i fell as i am seeping urine all the while.Should i visit my docs?
Hi, I'm 29 and had a baby 22 months ago. It was a forceps delivery and the pulling damaged my pelvis. I found walking extrmely painful for 8 months after and I found doing the pelvic floor exercises very hard as the pain was too severe. a year ago I noticed a lump high in my vagina and the Dr noticed a slight prolapse. I started the pelvic floor exercises and have been doing them everyday. Myself and my husband have decided to try for another baby however 2 day's ago I felt a very uncomfortable buldge in my vagina and on examintion I noticed a lump just inside the entrance of the vagina. It's very uncomfortable to walk and I am afraid it will get worse if I have another baby. What are my options for conceiving, carrying a baby and birth? Please help..
I had a TVT done in June with an anterior and posterior repair and unfortunately have had nothing but problems, My anterior prolapse has returned and I have a constant urge to pee. My specialist cannot do anything more for me as a previous colposuspension failed and I have trouble holding off urine 1st thing in the mornings when going to the bathroom with it sometimes running down my legs. My fear now is that I will become fully incontinent in my older years (I am only 55 at the moment). I am desperately unhappy as I had this tape inserted to have a better quality of life not a worse one.
I have had a Cystocele repair (I'm 45 & have 2 young children)and had a TVT done a week ago – so I'll keep you posted as to my results.
On reading these messages again and posting one of my own before I wonder why there are no replies to them, its obvious there are a lot of ladies who have problems and are desperate for help and guidance. In my experience GP’s and consultants give you the scantest information leaving us in the dark, we have to get information from fellow (none medically trained) sufferers hoping their advice can help but at the end of the day we need medical advice.
thanks to watching one of embaressing bodies about prolapse, and noticing my bits looked like the womens on the show,and previously having prolpses after my last 3 kids, i decided to go to the docs for a check,and was referred to hosp, had my hosp check yesterday to find i have "quite bad" as the doctor put it, front and rear wall prolapses, just got to wait now for my surgery date, quite relieved to be honest and looking forward to being back to normal, not that i can remember what normal is like lol
would like to thank the show for giving me the push to go to the doctors
Hi I have been diagnosed with a prolapse (my womb is still in place) the consultant has told me that if I have surgery I might suffer incontinence afterward. He has told me to do pelvic floor exercise but not how to do them!
He is to review me in about 6 weeks. I watched a program where women tested out different types of aids to strengthen the pelvic floor. Is it ok for me to use them? if so where can I purchase the one that was found to be the most effective?. How common is it for surgery to cause incontinence?
Important Notice
The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.
If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here