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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
Your pelvic floor consists of a sheet of muscles and ligaments that support your bladder, uterus, colon and small intestine — organs that fill your pelvic cavity. If these supporting tissues stretch or weaken, some of your internal organs may sink lower in your body, or prolapse.
Most common causes
Pregnancy and childbirth are the most common causes of a cystocele. This is because the muscles and ligaments that support and hold your vagina in place may become stretched and weakened during labor and delivery. For this reason, cystoceles are more common after multiple pregnancies.
Not everyone who has had a baby develops a cystocele. Some women have very strong supporting muscles and ligaments in the pelvis and may never have a problem. Women who have only Caesarean section deliveries usually do not develop prolapse.
Other causes
Prolapse may also be caused by straining your pelvic floor muscles through:
- Being overweight or obese
- Repeated heavy lifting
- Straining with bowel movements
- A chronic cough or bronchitis
