A cystocele may result from muscle straining while giving birth. Other kinds of straining-such as heavy lifting or repeated straining during bowel movements-may also cause the bladder to fall. The hormone estrogen helps keep the muscles around the vagina strong. When women go through menopause-that is, when they stop having menstrual periods-their bodies stop making estrogen, so the muscles around the vagina and bladder may grow weak.
A cystocele is mild-grade 1-when the bladder droops only a short way into the vagina. With a more severe-grade 2-cystocele, the bladder sinks far enough to reach the opening of the vagina. The most advanced-grade 3-cystocele occurs when the bladder bulges out through the opening of the vagina.
What causes Cystocele?
A cystocele may result from muscle straining while giving birth. Other kinds of straining-such as heavy lifting or repeated straining during bowel movements-may also cause the bladder to fall. The hormone estrogen helps keep the muscles around the vagina strong. When women go through menopause-that is, when they stop having menstrual periods-their bodies stop making estrogen, so the muscles around the vagina and bladder may grow weak.
A cystocele is mild-grade 1-when the bladder droops only a short way into the vagina. With a more severe-grade 2-cystocele, the bladder sinks far enough to reach the opening of the vagina. The most advanced-grade 3-cystocele occurs when the bladder bulges out through the opening of the vagina.