• You may not be able to empty your bladder completely.
• Your bladder may feel full all the time.
• You may feel pressure in your vagina.
• You may have pain when you have sex.
• You may leak urine when you cough, sneeze, or lift something.
• You may get bladder infections.

This surgery by itself does not treat stress incontinence (leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, or lift). It may be performed along with other surgeries.

Before doing this surgery, your doctor may have you learn pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegel exercises), use estrogen cream in your vagina, or try a device called a pessary in your vagina to hold up the prolapse.

Always tell your doctor or nurse what drugs you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription

During the days before the surgery:

• You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), warfarin (Coumadin), and any other drugs that make it hard for your blood to clot.
• Ask your doctor which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.

On the day of your surgery:

• You will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything for 6 to 12 hours before the surgery.
• Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

You may have a catheter to drain urine for 1 or 2 days after surgery.

You will be on a liquid diet right after surgery. When your normal bowel function returns, you can return to your regular diet.

This surgery will usually repair the prolapse, and most times symptoms of prolapse will go away. This improvement will often last for years.

Images

Cystocele

Anterior vaginal wall repair

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Review Date: 06/17/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)