Uzm. Dr. Ertan Özen
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- 36+years exp.
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Gynaecological Surgery
Anterior colporrhaphy
What anterior colporrhaphy (front vaginal wall or cystocele repair) is, how the surgeon lifts a prolapsed bladder using your own tissue, what evidence says about success and recurrence, how it compares with a pessary and with mesh, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, recovery, risks and clinic questions.
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Prof. Dr. Zehra Neşe Kavak
GynaecologyVerified
- 36+years exp.
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Anterior colporrhaphy in Turkey: what is a cystocele repair?
Anterior colporrhaphy is the standard operation for a cystocele, a bladder that has dropped and pushes into the front wall of the vagina. The bladder is held up by a sheet of connective tissue (fascia) and the pelvic floor muscles. Childbirth, ageing, menopause, chronic cough and heavy lifting can stretch or tear this support, so the bladder sags and the vaginal wall bulges. In the operation, a gynaecologist makes a cut in the front vaginal wall, frees the skin from the bladder, folds and stitches the weakened tissue to pull the bladder back to its normal position, trims excess skin and closes the wound. It is done through the vagina, with no abdominal cut. Gynaecology teams in Turkey perform it regularly, as a stand-alone operation or alongside other prolapse and continence procedures.
This guide explains how to tell whether you need it, what it achieves, what it costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany and how recovery goes. For the wider range of women's health care, see our gynaecology treatments in Turkey.
How do you know you have a cystocele?
A cystocele can be mild and without symptoms. When it bothers you, the usual signs are a dragging or heavy feeling in the pelvis that worsens by the evening, a soft bulge at the vaginal opening, a sense of not emptying the bladder, needing to urinate often or urgently, repeated urine infections, and leaking when coughing or lifting. Some women also notice discomfort during sex.
A gynaecologist confirms the diagnosis by examination, often while you cough or strain, and grades the prolapse. Tests such as urine culture and, when leakage is a main complaint, bladder pressure studies (urodynamics) help decide what else may be needed. Do not rely on an internet checklist: a bulge can also be another type of prolapse that needs a different operation.
Is surgery the only option? Pessary, pelvic floor work and repair compared
Surgery is not always the first step. The NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggest lifestyle changes, pelvic floor muscle training and a vaginal pessary as first-line choices for many women. A pessary is a soft silicone ring or cube that sits in the vagina and supports the bladder; it is removable, needs periodic replacement and can be a good long-term choice, particularly for women who are not fit for surgery or want more children. Pelvic floor training helps symptoms and may prevent mild prolapse from progressing.
| Option | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Anterior colporrhaphy | Symptomatic cystocele after non-surgical options, childbearing complete | Recurrence possible; recovery of about six weeks |
| Pessary and pelvic floor training | Mild to moderate prolapse, women unfit for surgery or planning pregnancy | Needs regular changes; does not repair tissue |
| Repair using mesh or graft | Selected recurrent prolapse in specialist centres | Mesh is restricted or banned in some countries after complications |
How is anterior colporrhaphy done, step by step?
The operation takes about 30 to 60 minutes under general anaesthesia or a spinal block. The surgeon injects fluid under the vaginal skin to separate it from the bladder, opens the front wall in the midline and lifts the skin away from the bladder. The stretched fascia is then pulled together with strong dissolving stitches, sometimes in more than one layer, to lift the bladder. Excess skin is trimmed and the cut is closed with dissolving stitches. If you leak urine on coughing, a continence procedure such as a mid-urethral sling may be added at the same time, which is a separate decision for you and your surgeon.
A catheter drains the bladder for about 24 hours, a vaginal pack may be used for the first day, and most women are discharged after one night.
Does anterior colporrhaphy work, and how often does the bulge come back?
Most women feel a clear improvement in the bulge and pressure, and many see their bladder emptying improve. But native-tissue repair relies on tissue that was weak in the first place, and the front wall is the part of the vagina most likely to re-prolapse. Guidelines and reviews report that a notable share of women show some anatomical recurrence in the years that follow, although a smaller proportion have symptoms or need another operation. Factors that raise the risk are a large initial prolapse, a persistent cough, constipation, obesity, heavy lifting and further vaginal births.
The honest message is that the operation relieves symptoms for most women, but it is not a guarantee against the prolapse returning. A clinic that promises permanence is overselling.
Anterior colporrhaphy cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for an anterior repair alone, not hospital quotes. They depend on the type of anaesthesia, the hospital, the length of stay and whether other procedures are added. Each hospital confirms its own price in a written quote.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €2,000 – €5,000 |
| United Kingdom | €4,500 – €10,000 (private) |
| United States | €7,000 – €20,000 |
| Germany | €3,500 – €8,500 |
What changes the price: whether a sling or other repair is added, the anaesthetic, the room type and the number of nights. A package normally includes pre-operative tests, the operation, the anaesthetist, hospital stay, medication and transfers; ask for the list in writing and whether follow-up in your home country is covered.
Who is a suitable candidate for a front wall repair?
The best candidates are women whose symptoms are linked to a confirmed cystocele, who have tried or ruled out non-surgical options and who have completed their family. Being close to a healthy weight, not smoking, treating chronic cough and constipation, and good general health all improve the chance of a lasting result. The surgeon may advise waiting or choosing another route if you are planning a pregnancy, have an active urinary infection, take blood thinners that cannot be paused, have uncontrolled diabetes or are not fit for anaesthetic. Women who also have uterine or vault prolapse may need a broader operation than an anterior repair alone, and this is why an examination before surgery matters.
Your trip to Turkey and what recovery feels like
Many women stay three to five nights, covering the operation, one night in hospital, catheter removal and a check before the flight. Recovery usually goes as follows.
- Days 1–3: soreness and pressure, light bleeding, catheter out after about a day; short walks.
- Weeks 1–2: rest, gentle activity, no heavy lifting; dissolving stitches begin to soften.
- Weeks 2–4: many return to desk work; avoid straining and tampons.
- About six weeks: check-up, then return to exercise and intercourse if healed.
Keep bowel movements soft with fibre, fluids and a laxative if advised. Passing urine may feel slow for a few days; tell the team if you cannot empty the bladder. Flying is usually fine once the surgeon has checked you.
What are the risks of anterior colporrhaphy?
Possible effects include bleeding, a collection of blood under the repair, infection, urinary tract infection, temporary difficulty emptying the bladder or urgency, injury to the bladder or urethra (uncommon), pain during sex, a tight or shortened vagina, new or persistent stress leakage and recurrence of the prolapse. Blood clots and anaesthetic problems can occur with any operation. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the NHS explain these risks in patient leaflets. Ask your surgeon how often they see them and what happens if a problem arises after you leave Turkey.
How do you choose a gynaecologist and hospital?
Look for a specialist gynaecologist or urogynaecologist who regularly performs pelvic floor surgery, a licensed hospital with an anaesthetist and a clear plan for follow-up, and a written plan and price before you pay a deposit. Red flags include a surgical offer without an examination or a review of your records, promises that the prolapse cannot return, vague answers about mesh, no named surgeon and rushed booking. Read how our process works and request an opinion through our free quote page; the hospital reviews your notes and sends a written plan and price.
What should you ask the clinic before you book?
- Does my examination show a cystocele only, or also uterine or back wall prolapse?
- Have non-surgical options such as a pessary been properly considered for me?
- Will mesh, a graft or a sling be used, and why?
- What are your recurrence and complication rates for this operation?
- What does the price include, and who handles follow-up once I am home?
Hospitals with Gynaecology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Anterior colporrhaphy is an operation that repairs the front wall of the vagina to treat a cystocele, where the bladder bulges into it. The surgeon stitches the weakened support tissue to lift the bladder, working entirely through the vagina.
Most women get clear relief from the bulge and pressure, and often better bladder emptying. The front wall is the most likely to re-prolapse because your own tissue is used, so recurrence should be discussed before surgery.
Approximate ranges are €2,000 to €5,000 in Turkey, against about €4,500 to €10,000 privately in the UK. Added procedures and the length of stay change the price; the hospital confirms it in a written quote.
They are essentially the same: a cystocele is the condition and anterior colporrhaphy is the standard native-tissue operation for it. Some surgeons use grafts or other techniques, so ask which is planned.
Many women return to desk work in two to four weeks. Avoid heavy lifting, straining, tampons and sex for about six weeks, until the surgeon confirms the repair has healed.
You are anaesthetised for the operation. Afterwards expect soreness and pressure in the vagina for several days, which simple painkillers and rest usually control.
Yes. NHS and NICE guidance suggests a pessary and pelvic floor training as first-line options for many women. Surgery is considered if symptoms continue or you prefer a repair.
It can. A share of women show some recurrence in the years after native-tissue repair, though fewer have symptoms. Avoiding constipation, heavy lifting and weight gain lowers the risk.
The standard operation uses your own tissue and stitches. Mesh for prolapse has been restricted in the UK and banned for transvaginal use in the US, so ask whether any implant is planned.
Plan for about three to five nights: the operation, one night in hospital, catheter removal and a check before the flight. Combined procedures may extend the stay.
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