A woman’s bladder lies just above the vagina. Between them is a wall of muscles and tissues, supporting both bladder and urethea, the tube carrying urine out of the body.
A dropped bladder, a condition known as having a cystocele, is the result of stretching/ weakening of these supporting tissues around the bladder, allowing it to drop or protrude into the vagina.
As the bladder drops, the urethea is stretched. This may subsequently result in a leakage of urine out of the urethea.
This altogether quite unpleasant condition can be caused by a variety of factors, such as:
•Stretching of tissues and muscles during child birth, particularly during a difficult or prolonged period of labour.
•Excessive straining during bowel movements, this is a common cause in woman who are frequently constipated.
•Decreased estrogen, or oestrogen, levels during menopause. Estrogen is a steroid hormone mainly produced by the ovaries and aids in keeping the relevant muscles/tissues strong.
•As a woman reaches the menopause production is reduced. Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, can help with this and many other effects of the menopause.
•A weakening of the supporting muscles due to the normal aging process.
•Heavy lifting, causing stress on muscles surrounding both vagina and bladder.
The most common symptoms of a dropped bladder are a difficulty in emptying the bladder and stress incontinence, leakages of urine when laughing, sneezing or coughing place pressure onto the bladder.
Other symptoms may include abdominal discomfort, pelvic pain or a sensation of bulging within the vaginal area, as well as a frequent urgency to urinate and difficulties or pain while urinating.
If a dropped bladder is suspected, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Treatments/outcomes depend on the cause and severity of the condition.
A dropped bladder, a condition known as having a cystocele, is the result of stretching/ weakening of these supporting tissues around the bladder, allowing it to drop or protrude into the vagina.
As the bladder drops, the urethea is stretched. This may subsequently result in a leakage of urine out of the urethea.
This altogether quite unpleasant condition can be caused by a variety of factors, such as:
•Stretching of tissues and muscles during child birth, particularly during a difficult or prolonged period of labour.
•Excessive straining during bowel movements, this is a common cause in woman who are frequently constipated.
•Decreased estrogen, or oestrogen, levels during menopause. Estrogen is a steroid hormone mainly produced by the ovaries and aids in keeping the relevant muscles/tissues strong.
•As a woman reaches the menopause production is reduced. Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, can help with this and many other effects of the menopause.
•A weakening of the supporting muscles due to the normal aging process.
•Heavy lifting, causing stress on muscles surrounding both vagina and bladder.
The most common symptoms of a dropped bladder are a difficulty in emptying the bladder and stress incontinence, leakages of urine when laughing, sneezing or coughing place pressure onto the bladder.
Other symptoms may include abdominal discomfort, pelvic pain or a sensation of bulging within the vaginal area, as well as a frequent urgency to urinate and difficulties or pain while urinating.
If a dropped bladder is suspected, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Treatments/outcomes depend on the cause and severity of the condition.
