Cystocele Surgery: Understanding Treatment Options & Recovery

A dropped bladder is also sometimes called a fallen bladder, or a cystocele. It can be caused by childbirth, heavy straining or lifting or by a deficiency of estrogen because of menopause. According to the Urogynecology Specialists of Kentuckiana, a cystocele may cause pain, discomfort and unusual bleeding and discharge.

Types

• You may not need surgery for a dropped bladder if your condition is mild. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are three grades of cystocele. Grade one is the most mild, whereas grade three is the most severe.

Method

• A doctor may place a pessary inside the vagina to support the bladder. A pessary is a simple device that can be modified to fit the patient.

Surgery

• If a pessary is not advisable, the patient may need surgery. Surgery involves tightening the layers of tissue in the area to more firmly support the bladder and other organs.

Time Frame

• Surgical procedures for a dropped bladder typically require a hospital stay of several days, according to the National Institutes of Health. The patient may need an additional four to six weeks for recovery.

Benefits

• The benefits for having this condition surgically repaired include preventing the leakage of urine and enabling the patient to completely empty the bladder.