How to Diagnose and Treat Prolapsed Bladder

A condition in which a woman’s bladder moves out of position and swoops down into the vagina is called “prolapsed bladder.” Anatomically, the bladder is located between the pubic bone (anterior) and the uterus (posterior) and above the vagina. Bladder prolapse, also known as bladder hernia, occurs when the vaginal wall muscles weaken and are not able to hold the pelvic organs in place. In this case, the bladder protrudes or retracts into the vagina. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} About 11% of women need surgery to correct bladder prolapse. ^{[2] X Research Source} Bladder prolapse can be uncomfortable and uncontrollable, so it’s important to diagnose and correct symptoms as quickly and effectively as possible. ^{[3] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

Table of Contents

Know the symptoms of bladder prolapse

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Feel for the presence of a lump in the vagina. In some severe cases, you may feel your bladder descending into your vagina. When you sit down, you feel like you are sitting on a ball or an egg; This feeling should go away when you get up or lie down. This is the most recognizable symptom of bladder prolapse, and you need to see a specialist or gynecologist as soon as possible. ^{[4] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go To Source}^{[5] X Trusted Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Go To Source}

This sensation is considered a sign of serious bladder prolapse.

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Note pelvic pain or discomfort. If you experience pain, pressure, or discomfort in your lower abdomen, pelvis, or vagina, you should see your doctor. Certain medical conditions, including bladder prolapse, can cause these symptoms. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}^{[7] X Trusted Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Go to Source}

If you have a prolapsed bladder, you’ll feel more pain, pressure, or discomfort when you cough, sneeze, exert yourself, or put pressure on your pelvic floor. Then you need to clearly describe to the doctor.
If you have a prolapsed bladder, you will feel as if something has fallen out of your vagina.

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Observe urinary tract symptoms. If you frequently leak urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exert yourself, you’re experiencing “pressure incontinence.” Women who have just given birth are often at risk, and the main cause may be bladder prolapse. You need to see a doctor to solve this problem. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}^{[9] X Trusted Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Go to Source}

Watch for any changes in urination, including difficulty initiating urination, inability to urinate (also known as urinary retention), and frequent urination.
Observe the frequency of bladder infections or urinary tract infections (UTIs). “Frequent” was defined as having more than one UTI in a six-month period. Women with bladder prolapse are also more likely to have bladder infections, so you need to be very mindful of the frequency of UTIs.

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Note the pain during sex. Pain during intercourse is called “painful intercourse” and can be caused by a number of physical causes, including bladder prolapse. If this happens, you need to see a general practitioner or gynecologist as soon as possible. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}^{[11] X Trusted Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Go to Source}

If painful intercourse is new, and you recently gave birth vaginally, the cause is likely to be bladder prolapse. In this case, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

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Observe back pain. Some women with prolapse of the bladder often experience low back pain, pressure, or discomfort. Back pain is a common symptom of many medical conditions — or nothing serious at all. However, you still need to see a doctor if you have other symptoms. ^{[12] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}^{[13] X Trusted Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Go to Source}

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Note that some women have no symptoms at all. If it is a mild case, you will not notice any of the above symptoms. Some cases of bladder are detected during gynecological examination.

However, if you notice any of the above symptoms, you should see your general practitioner or gynecologist.
Usually, you don’t need treatment if you don’t have symptoms.

Find out what causes bladder prolapse

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Know that pregnancy and childbirth are the main causes of bladder prolapse. During pregnancy and delivery, the pelvic muscles and supporting tissues are often stretched. These are the muscles that hold the bladder in place, so if they are overstretched or weakened, the bladder will drop into the vagina. ^{[14] X Trusted Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Go to Source}^{[15] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

Women who have been pregnant, especially women who have had multiple vaginal deliveries, are at increased risk for prolapse. Even women who have had a caesarean section can experience this condition.

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Recognize the role of menopause. Women who have passed menopause are often at risk of bladder prolapse due to decreased levels of the female hormone estrogen. Estrogen’s main job is to maintain the strength, firmness and elasticity of the vaginal muscles. So the drop in estrogen levels that accompanies the transition to menopause can make the muscle group thinner and less elastic, causing overall weakness. ^{[16] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

Note that the drop in estrogen persists even if you enter menopause in an unnatural way, such as by having your uterus and/or ovaries removed. These surgeries not only damage the pelvis but also affect estrogen levels. So even if you’re younger than menopausal women and in good health, you can still be at risk for bladder prolapse. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Realize that muscle tension is also a factor in bladder prolapse. Excessive straining or lifting heavy objects sometimes also contributes to bladder prolapse. When you stretch your pelvic floor muscles, you run the risk of bladder prolapse (especially if the vaginal wall muscles are weakened by menopause or childbirth). Here are some stretching activities that can cause bladder prolapse: ^{[18] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source}

Lifting very heavy objects (including children)
Chronic and severe cough
Constipation and straining when going to the toilet

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Note the weight. If you are overweight or obese, you are more likely to develop bladder prolapse. Excess weight puts extra pressure on the pelvic floor muscle groups. ^{[19] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to Source}

You can tell if a person is overweight or obese by their body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat. BMI is calculated by dividing body mass in kilograms by the square of height in meters. A BMI between 25-29.9 is considered overweight, and greater than 30 is considered obese. ^{[20] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source}

Diagnosis of bladder prolapse

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Go to the doctor. If you think you have a prolapsed bladder, you should see a general practitioner or gynecologist.

Provide complete information to the doctor, including medical history and detailed description of symptoms of the disease.

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Go to a gynecologist. First, your doctor will perform a routine gynecological exam. During the exam, the doctor can detect bladder prolapse by pressing the back of the vagina with a speculum (gynecological instrument) while you lie flat with your knees bent and your feet on the stirrups. Your doctor will ask you to “push” (like you would when a fetus or stool is passed out) or cough. If you have a prolapsed bladder, your doctor will see or feel a soft bulge in front of the vaginal wall when you stretch. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Bladder prolapse was diagnosed as prolapse. ^{[22] X Trusted Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Go to source}
In some cases, in addition to a regular gynecological exam, your doctor may have to do additional tests while you’re standing. This helps the doctor accurately assess the state of bladder prolapse in each different position.
If you notice bladder prolapse in the back wall of your vagina, your doctor will perform a rectal exam. This step helps the doctor determine the strength of the muscle. ^{[23] X Research Sources}
You don’t need to prepare for this test in advance, and it doesn’t take long. You’ll only feel some discomfort during your pelvic exam, but for many women this is just a routine check-up like taking a Pap smear.

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Get a few more tests done if you have bleeding, urinary incontinence, or impaired sexual function. Your doctor will usually recommend a bladder pressure or urodynamic test.

Bladder manometry measures the amount of urine in the bladder when you start to feel the urge to urinate, when the bladder feels “full,” and when the bladder is actually full ^{[24] X Research Source}
Your doctor will ask you to urinate into a container connected to a computer that takes the measurement. You will then lie down on an examination table where the doctor will place a thin, flexible urinary catheter into your bladder.
A urodynamic measurement is a series of different tests that include measuring urine flow, i.e. the time it takes to urinate, the time it takes to complete, and the amount of urine released. In addition, urodynamic measurement also includes a bladder pressure test as described above, an excretory test, and a urine discharge phase.
During most urodynamic tests, your doctor will place a thin, flexible urinary catheter in place while you urinate. Special sensors will collect data for the doctor to analyze.

Bladder prolapse treatment

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Ask your doctor about treatment. Grade 1 prolapse usually does not require medical treatment, as long as it does not cause pain or discomfort to the patient. You need to talk to your doctor about whether you need medical treatment or just monitoring. If symptoms do not affect much, the doctor will recommend some basic treatments including Kegel exercises and physical therapy. ^{[33] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Keep in mind that your doctor may recommend that you stop certain activities, such as weightlifting or those that strain your pelvic muscles. However, you can still exercise regularly. ^{[34] X Research Source}
You should also consider how your symptoms affect your quality of life in order to make treatment decisions. For example, you may have severe bladder prolapse but not be affected by the accompanying symptoms. In this case, you can talk to your doctor about some gentler treatments. In other cases, you may have a mild prolapse, but the symptoms are very painful or inconvenient. You can then consult your doctor about some stronger treatment methods.

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Exercise Kegels. This exercise is done by stretching the pelvic floor muscles (like when you stop urinating), holding for a certain amount of time and then releasing it completely. You can regularly work out to strengthen your muscles, as this exercise requires no special equipment and can be done anywhere (including while waiting in line, sitting at your desk, or relaxing in the office). stretch on a cushioned chair). In some mild cases, this exercise can help reduce bladder prolapse. Here’s how to do Kegel exercises: ^{[35] X Trusted Source Harvard Medical Schop Go to source}

Stretch, or contract, the pelvic floor muscles. This is the muscle group used to stop the flow of urine while excreting.
Squeeze for about five seconds, then relax for about five seconds.
Gradually increase the time by ten seconds.
The goal is to do 3 to 4 reps with 10 repetitions each

Advice

Although it can be painful, uncomfortable, and inconvenient, prolapse is curable and is not life-threatening. Don’t panic when you think you have a prolapsed bladder; You just need to go to the doctor and talk to your doctor about the right treatment. Then your condition will be in complete remission.

Steps

Know the symptoms of bladder prolapse

Find out what causes bladder prolapse

Diagnosis of bladder prolapse

Bladder prolapse treatment

Advice

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