Print Overview Anterior prolapse (cystocele) Enlarge image Close Anterior prolapse (cystocele) Anterior prolapse (cystocele) A dropped or prolapsed bladder (cystocele) occurs when the bladder bulges into the vaginal space. It results when the muscles and tissues that support the bladder give way. Anterior vaginal prolapse, also known as a cystocele (SIS-toe-seel) or a prolapsed bladder, is when the bladder drops from its usual position in the pelvis and pushes on the wall of the vagina. The organs of the pelvis — including the bladder, uterus and intestines — are typically held in place by the muscles and connective tissues of the pelvic floor. Anterior prolapse occurs when the pelvic floor becomes weak or if too much pressure is put on the pelvic floor. This can happen over time, during vaginal childbirth or with chronic constipation, violent coughing or heavy lifting. Anterior prolapse is treatable. For a mild or moderate prolapse, nonsurgical treatment is often effective. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to keep the vagina and other pelvic organs in their proper positions.Products & ServicesA Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health BookNewsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital EditionShow more products from Mayo Clinic SymptomsIn mild cases of anterior prolapse, you may not notice any signs or symptoms. When signs and symptoms occur, they may include: A feeling of fullness or pressure in your pelvis and vagina In some cases, a bulge of tissue in your vagina that you can see or feel Increased pelvic pressure when you strain, cough, bear down or lift Problems urinating, including difficulty starting a urine stream, the feeling that you haven't completely emptied your bladder after urinating, feeling a frequent need to urinate or leaking urine (urinary incontinence) Signs and symptoms often are especially noticeable after standing for long periods of time and may go away when you lie down. When to see a doctorA prolapsed bladder can be uncomfortable, but it is rarely painful. It can make emptying your bladder difficult, which may lead to bladder infections. Make an appointment with your health care provider if you have any signs or symptoms that bother you or impact your daily activities. Request an appointment There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Women’s health topics - straight to your inbox Get the latest information from our Mayo Clinic experts on women’s health topics, serious and complex conditions, wellness and more. Click to view a preview and subscribe below. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry CausesYour pelvic floor consists of muscles, ligaments and connective tissues that support your bladder and other pelvic organs. The connections between your pelvic organs and ligaments can weaken over time, or as a result of trauma from childbirth or chronic straining. When this happens, your bladder can slip down lower than usual and bulge into your vagina (anterior prolapse). Causes of stress to the pelvic floor include: Pregnancy and vaginal childbirth Being overweight or obese Repeated heavy lifting Straining with bowel movements A chronic cough or bronchitis Risk factorsThese factors may increase your risk of anterior prolapse: Pregnancy and childbirth. Women who have had a vaginal or instrument-assisted delivery, multiple pregnancies, or whose infants had a high birth weight have a higher risk of anterior prolapse. Aging. Your risk of anterior prolapse increases as you age. This is especially true after menopause, when your body's production of estrogen — which helps keep the pelvic floor strong — decreases. Hysterectomy. Having your uterus removed may contribute to weakness in your pelvic floor, but this is not always the case. Genetics. Some women are born with weaker connective tissues, making them more susceptible to anterior prolapse. Obesity. Women who are overweight or obese are at higher risk of anterior prolapse. By Mayo Clinic Staff Anterior vaginal prolapse (cystocele) care at Mayo Clinic Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment April 06, 2023 Print Show references AskMayoExpert. Pelvic organ prolapse. Mayo Clinic; 2019. AskMayoExpert. Pelvic floor dysfunction. Mayo Clinic; 2018. Rogers RG, et al. Pelvic organ prolapse in women: Epidemiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and management. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 31, 2020. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice Bulletin No. 176: Pelvic organ prolapse. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2017; doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000002016. Cystocele (prolapsed bladder). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/cystocele-prolapsed-bladder. Accessed Jan. 31, 2020. Urinary incontinence. Office on Women's Health. https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/urinary-incontinence. Accessed Jan. 31, 2020. DeCherney AH, et al., eds. Urinary incontinence & pelvic floor disorders. In: Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Obstetrics & Gynecology. 12th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2019. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Jan. 31, 2020. Magowan BA, et al., eds. Pelvic organ prolapse. In: Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 31, 2020. Nguyen H. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Feb. 14, 2022. Occhnio JA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. March 17, 2020. 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There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Women’s health topics - straight to your inbox Get the latest information from our Mayo Clinic experts on women’s health topics, serious and complex conditions, wellness and more. Click to view a preview and subscribe below. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry