Paravaginal Repair – Cystocele

Cystocele, also called bladder prolapse, occurs when the bladder falls into the vagina.

A cystocele occurs when the wall between a woman’s bladder and her vagina weakens and allows the bladder to droop or sag into the vagina. Women with this condition experience discomfort and problems with emptying the bladder. A cystocele may result from muscle straining while giving birth or other repeated straining movements such as heavy lifting or straining during bowel movements. Also, women going through menopause are at risk, as estrogen helps keep the muscles around the vagina strong, and menopause causes their bodies to stop making estrogen.

There are three grades of cystocele based on the severity of the condition.

Grade 1– The mildest grade where the bladder droops slightly into the vagina.

Grade 2– The moderately severe grade where the bladder has sunk into the vagina far enough to reach the opening of the vagina.

Grade 3– The most severe grade where the bladder bulges out through the opening of the vagina.

Cystocele Symptoms

The most common symptoms women experience is the feeling of a lump or bulge in the vagina, urine leakage, and incomplete emptying of the bladder.

Additional signs and symptoms of cystocele include:

  • Feeling of pelvic heaviness
  • Aching or a feeling of pressure in the lower belly or pelvis
  • Lower back pain
  • Frequent need to urinate
  • Leakage of urine
  • Incomplete emptying of the bladder
  • Pain during sex
  • Pelvic pressure that gets worse with standing, lifting, or coughing

Paravaginal Repair Procedure

Paravaginal repair is done to correct the bulging of the front wall of the vagina that has fallen from the support of the bladder. The procedure is completed under general anesthesia and repairs the prolapsed bladder by attaching it to the pelvic walls. The tissue between the bladder and the vaginal wall is tightened with stitches to allow the strengthening of the muscles and ligaments.

Help is Available

Our double board-certified physicians are experts in treating the entire pelvic floor, not just one area of the body, so now you only have to see one doctor to address all of your pelvic floor problems. Call us today at 770.721.6060 or request an appointment online.

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Prolapse Solutions

Why Choose Vaginal Health Center?

Our surgeons are both Urogynecologists and OB/GYNs and are uniquely qualified in female vaginal anatomy.

Unmatched Experience

  • Our surgeons are practicing OB/GYNs and have each delivered thousands of babies. With their training and years of experience, they have a further and complete understanding of a woman’s anatomy and the changes that occur after childbirth.

  • Our surgeons have over 70 years combined experience with a focus on women’s pelvic health.

  • Our surgeons have many more years of training specifically on the female pelvic anatomy than a typical Plastic Surgeon, general Gynecologist or standard Urogynecologist.

  • Your vaginal surgery results are only as good as your surgeon’s experience and skills.