Rectocele

A Rectocele occurs when the wall between a woman's rectum and her vagina weakens and allows the rectum to drop into the vagina. A rectocele may cause the following symptoms: 

  • A soft bulge of tissue in your vagina that protrudes through the vaginal opening

  • Difficulty having a bowel movement

  • The need to press your fingers on the bulge in your vagina to help push stool out during a bowel movement

  • Sensation of rectal pressure or fullness

  • A feeling that the rectum has not completely emptied after a bowel movement

The main factors that contribute to the development of a rectocele are:

  1. Hereditary.  Rectoceles tend to run in families. There are genes that code for the supporting structures of the pelvic floor and variations in these genes can lead to weakening of the pelvic floor.

  2. Childbirth. Vaginal birth can stretch and weaken the supporting structures of the pelvic floor.

  3. Age. As supporting structures of the pelvic floor age, they weaken.

  4. Chronic constipation or straining with bowel movements.

A rectocele is diagnosed by pelvic exam. Often times, other defects of the pelvic floor are present, such as cystocele and vaginal prolapse. Treatment for rectocele ranges from no treatment for a mild rectocele to surgery or a pessary for a more advanced rectocele.


Treatments for Rectocele:

Pessary for Prolapse
Vaginal Prolapse Repair
da Vanci Robotic Sacrolcopopexy