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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration showing normal bladder and cystocele Cystocele

Your pelvic floor consists of muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that support your bladder and other pelvic organs. The connections between your pelvic floor muscles and ligaments can weaken over time, as a result of trauma from childbirth or chronic straining of pelvic floor muscles. When this happens, your bladder can slip down lower than normal and bulge into your vagina, resulting in a cystocele.

Possible causes of cystocele include:

  • Pregnancy and vaginal childbirth
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Repeated heavy lifting
  • Straining with bowel movements
  • A chronic cough or bronchitis
Risk factors Symptoms
References
  1. McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2012. 51st ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=9026. Accessed Feb. 14, 2012.
  2. Abed M, et al. Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse: Diagnosis and treatment for the primary care physician. Medical Clinics of North America. 2008;92:1273.
  3. Mahajan ST. Anterior vaginal wall support abnormalities: Evaluation and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Feb. 13, 2012.
  4. Urinary incontinence in women. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uiwomen/. Accessed Feb. 13, 2012.
  5. Hagen S, et al. Conservative prevention and management of pelvic organ prolapse in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/view/0/index.html. Accessed Feb. 14, 2012.
  6. Leu PB, et al. Cystocele repair with interpositional grafting. Urologic Clinics of North America. 2011;38:47.
  7. Bladder prolapse (cystocele). American Urological Association Foundation. http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article=118. Accessed Feb. 28, 2012.
DS00665 April 14, 2012

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