Cystocele - Diagnosing a pelvic organ prolapse

If your prolapse is not visible, your doctor will need to carry out an internal pelvic examination to diagnose pelvic organ prolapse. 

Your doctor will ask you to undress from the waist down and lie back on the examination table while they feel for any lumps or bumps in your pelvic area.

In some cases, further tests are carried out in hospital. For example, a small tube (catheter) may be inserted into your bladder to examine your bladder function and identify any leakage problems. This test is known as urodynamics.

If pelvic organ prolapse is confirmed, it will usually be staged to indicate its severity. Most often, prolapses are staged using a number system ranging from 1 to 4, with 1 indicating minimal prolapse and 4 indicating a severe prolapse.