* What does it mean when my bladder "falls"?

All your pelvic organs are designed to be held up in place by a combination of pelvic floor muscle and connective tissue and ligament strength.  Sometimes in women, due to aging (darn that gravity), childbirth, repetitive heavy lifting, high impact activities and such, the organ support system looses holding capacity and the organs can “fall” or drop into the vaginal canal.  Imagine that piece of elastic in your favorite pants that looses its snappy spring over time only to cause you to have droopy drawers. 

While the bladder is the most common organ to fall, any pelvic organ can drop. Falling of the bladder it is called a cystocele, the rectum is a rectocele, the uterus is a uterocele, and intestines are an enterocele.  Collectively, any dropped pelvic organ is called pelvic organ prolapse or POP for short. 

Most people are not aware they have a prolapse early on.  The organs remain in the vaginal cavity.  Over time, it may actually protrude outside the body.  Fortunately, while this doesn’t sound good, most women have no pain and few symptoms with a prolapse.  If caught early they respond very well to conservative physical therapy including pelvic floor muscle training.  If this fails, surgery can be used to lift and tuck the organ back in place.