Overview
A cystocele is an downward outpocketing or hernia of the bladder towards the vaginal opening. The weakening of the muscular wall in this condition can cause urine to leak from the bladder when there is an increase in internal abdominal pressure such as in sneezing or coughing.
Review Date 4/10/2022
Updated by: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.