What is a prolapsed bladder

Feeling a bulge or lump in the vagina that you can see or touch is the most common symptom of bladder prolapse. However, there are some other signs and symptoms to look out for:

 

Bladder prolapse can affect a woman's ability to pass urine in many ways. Some may need to pass urine more frequently. Others may struggle to pass urine or feel that they cannot completely empty their bladder. Some people experience stress incontinence which means leaking a small amount of urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze, stand up or lift a heavy object. Blood in the urine is not uncommon.

 

You know your body best, so trust your instincts if you think something isn’t quite right. It might be a feeling of heaviness in your lower stomach and genitals, a dragging discomfort, or there’s something coming down into your vagina. Some women describe it as feeling like sitting on a small ball.

 

Prolapse may also show up as a feeling of discomfort or numbness that you notice during sex. Our article on how to deal with bladder weakness and intimacy has some helpful tips to boost your confidence if you’re struggling.

 

Despite everything, sometimes prolapse has no symptoms at all. It might be discovered during another medical examination carried out for something else, like a cervical screening. 

The good news is that prolapsed bladder is treatable. All treatments serve to increase the support for the bladder, helping to hold it in place. One way to help or even prevent prolapse is by practising pelvic floor exercises. There are also some simple lifestyle changes that can help, such as losing weight (if you’re overweight), not lifting heavy objects to avoid straining, and preventing or treating constipation by eating foods rich in fibre. These interventions help to avoid pushing the bladder downwards against weakened muscle.

 

In some cases, medical treatment is required. This might be in the form of hormone treatment, a vaginal pessary (a small device that, once inserted, holds the bladder in place) or sometimes surgery. How you treat your condition depends on the nature of the prolapse and its impact. 

 

If you notice a lump in or around your vagina, or if you have any of the above symptoms, see your GP. They will help you decide the best treatment option for you.

 

In the meantime, keep learning by reading our guides to the bladder and the pelvic floor.  

 

If you need incontinence protection as a result of prolapse, we have products fit for every leak.

 

 

* https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng123/chapter/Context