OverviewIn a female, the rectum lies just behind the vagina. Between the rectum and vagina is a wall made of tissues and muscles that support the rectum and vagina. When a woman has a rectocele, the wall supporting the rectum is weaker than usual. This weakening allows part of the rectum to become stretched and bulge into the vagina. The woman may experience difficulty passing stool.
What is going on in the body?The rectum lies just behind the vagina in a female. Between the rectum and vagina is a wall made of tissues and muscles that support the rectum and vagina. When a woman has a rectocele, the wall supporting the rectum is weaker than usual. This weakening allows part of the rectum to protrude into the vagina. As the rectum becomes stretched, it bulges into the vagina. The woman may experience difficulty passing stool.
What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?Symptoms of a rectocele may include:
• bulging of rectal tissue from the vagina
• difficulty having a bowel movement
•
dyspareunia, or pain with sexual intercourse
• the need for manual evacuation, in which fingers are placed in the vagina to push the rectum back in order to have a bowel movement
• rectal pain
• rectal bleeding
• a feeling that the rectum has not been completely emptied after a bowel movement
• leaking of stool from the rectum
What are the causes and risks of the disease?
Rectocele results from a weakening or stretching of the tissues supporting the rectum. The causes of this weakening include: muscles and tissues being stretched during childbirth
heavy lifting that causes stress on the muscles surrounding the vagina and rectum
chronic constipation
or repeated straining during bowel movements
obesity
excessive coughing, such as from lung disease
menopause. Estrogen helps keep the muscles around the vagina strong. During menopause, estrogen levels decrease.
normal aging, which can cause the muscles become weaker
What can be done to prevent the disease?
This condition may not be preventable. Using caution when doing heavy lifting may decrease the risk. Kegel exercises may strengthen the wall supporting the vagina and rectum.
How is the disease diagnosed?
Diagnosis of a rectocele begins with a complete history and physical, including a pelvic exam
and rectal exam. Other tests may include:
ultrasound, which uses sound waves to show the uterus, bladder, rectum, and cervix
defecography, in which X-rays of the rectum are taken while the person has a bowel movement
stool culture, in which the stool is examined for bacteria
blood tests, including a complete blood count, or CBC, to check for infection
other X-rays, scans, or tests to rule out other causes of the symptoms
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