Am I At Risk Of Getting Bladder Prolapse?

Are you pregnant or have you given birth once or more?

Are you going through or have you gone through menopause?

Are you overweight or obese (your BMI (body mass index) is 25 or higher)?

Do you strain regularly during bowel movements or have constipation?

Do you have a chronic cough (smoker's cough or cough due to chronic lung disease)?

Do you regularly do heavy lifting, either at work or in the gym?

Have you had previous trauma to the pelvic area such as a fall, or pelvic radiotherapy?

Have you had a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus)?

Do you have a family history of bladder prolapse?

Do you have any type of connective tissue disease such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), scleroderma, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), Churg-Strauss syndrome, lupus, microscopic polyangiitis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis or Marfan syndrome?

Based on your answers you have a low risk of getting bladder prolapse. Bladder prolapse is a medical condition in which the bladder drops from its normal position and presses against the wall of the vagina. Risk factors for bladder prolapse include anything that puts a lot of pressure on your pelvic floor muscles, including vigorous weight training. Avoid lifting objects heavier than 10 kg (this includes children and grandchildren); exercise daily but use less weight to avoid excessive strain. Try to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, because being overweight puts an extra pressure on your pelvic floor muscles and increases your risk of bladder prolapse.

Based on your answers you have a moderate risk of getting bladder prolapse. Bladder prolapse is a common condition in women, in which the bladder descends into the vaginal area. In some cases the bladder can even protrude from the vagina. It occurs due to the weakness of the pelvic floor muscles, which cannot support the bladder as it should. Bladder prolapse is common in postmenopausal women due to decreased estrogen levels. Estrogen is a female sex hormone that contributes to the elasticity of vaginal tissue. After menopause, the vaginal tissue becomes less elastic, which may allow the bladder to drops on or protrudes from the vagina.

Based on your answers you have a high risk of getting bladder prolapse. Bladder prolapse occurs when the muscles and ligaments that are supposed to hold the bladder in place weaken. It often occurs in people who have connective tissue disorder (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis (RA), scleroderma, or lupus) in which the tissues in the body are not able to withstand the weight of the organ It is also common in women who have given birth once or more, as well as in those who have had long and difficult childbirths. Severe strain due to bowel movements, or chronic cough also contributes to bladder prolapse.