Procedures
These methods include: Avoiding constipation by following a high-fiber diet (more than 25 grams of fiber per day) and drinking 6 to 8 10-ounce... Avoiding straining during bowel movements and long periods of sitting on the toilet. Using stool softeners …
Therapy
Moderate to severe cases are often treated with a vaginal pessary (a support device inserted into the vagina) or rectocele repair (a minimally invasive surgical procedure). Rectocele Repair Your doctor may recommend rectocele repair if other treatment methods …
How can I Fix my rectocele naturally?
Treatment for Rectocele really depends on the severity of the condition. More mild cases benefit from Kegel exercise that strengthens the pelvic muscle tissues. Additional nonsurgical options includes inserting Pessary supports into the vagina. For situations where the rectocele bulges outside the vagina, surgery is recommended.
Can you fix a rectocele without surgery?
A surgical procedure called posterior colporrhaphy is commonly used to repair rectoceles. During the procedure, your provider removes damaged tissue that's no longer supporting your pelvic organs and sutures the healthy tissue together for added support.
How to correct a rectocele?
Feb 14, 2022 · Kegel exercises are muscle-strengthening maneuvers that help to tighten the tissues around the vagina, but they have not been proven to prevent rectoceles. Treatment If you are troubled by symptoms of a rectocele, you doctor likely will do surgery to repair the weakness in the fascia between your rectum and vagina.
Will ThermiVa help with rectocele?
These exercises can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles — especially important after you have a baby. Treat and prevent constipation. Drink plenty of fluids and eat high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans and whole-grain cereals. Avoid heavy lifting and lift correctly. When lifting, use your legs instead of your waist or back.
Can you fix a rectocele without surgery?
What are non-surgical repairs for a rectocele? Most symptoms of a rectocele can be kept under control without surgery. These methods include: Avoiding constipation by following a high-fiber diet (more than 25 grams of fiber per day) and drinking 6 to 8 10-ounce glasses of water per day.May 20, 2021
Is rectocele repair major surgery?
Rectocele repair is a major surgery. A doctor will often suggest it only after other treatments have failed to correct your problem.
What is the best treatment for rectocele?
Treatment depends on the severity of the posterior vaginal prolapse. Your doctor might recommend: Observation. If your posterior vaginal prolapse causes few or no symptoms, simple self-care measures — such as performing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles — may provide relief.Sep 2, 2020
What happens if a rectocele goes untreated?
If a rectocele is left untreated, the following complications may occur: Pressure or discomfort in the pelvic area. Constipation. Leakage of bowel movements (incontinence)
How long do you stay in hospital after rectocele surgery?
After surgery, you may need to stay in the hospital for 1 or more days.
What kind of doctor fixes a rectocele?
Colorectal surgeons, gynecologists and urogynecologists are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. These trained physicians can perform surgeries to attempt repair of a rectocele.
What does a rectocele feel like to touch?
What does a rectocele feel like to touch? Your rectocele may be so slight that you can't feel it. If the prolapse is more pronounced, it may feel like a bulge or lump in the back wall of your vagina. You can insert a (clean) finger or two to feel for a rectocele.Mar 22, 2022
How do I know if I have a cystocele or rectocele?
A cystocele is when part of the bladder wall bulges into the vagina. The bulge happens through a defect in the wall between the bladder and vagina. A rectocele is when part of the wall of the rectum bulges into the vagina. The bulge happens through a defect in the wall between the rectum and vagina.
How do you poop with a rectocele?
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How serious is a rectocele?
A rectocele may not cause symptoms. Or, you may notice a bulge in your vagina when you strain or bear down during a bowel movement. You may feel pressure, have pain during sex, or have trouble passing stool. A rectocele usually does not cause serious health problems.
Is a rectocele painful?
If a posterior vaginal prolapse is large, it may create a noticeable bulge of tissue through the vaginal opening. This bulge may be uncomfortable, but it's rarely painful.Sep 2, 2020
How is rectocele diagnosed?
How Is a Rectocele Diagnosed? A pelvic exam includes both a vaginal and rectal examination. A digital rectal exam will be performed to assess weakness in the wall of the rectum closest to the vagina. A special X-ray, called defecography, can also confirm a rectocele.
How to treat rectocele without surgery?
Strategies include: Avoid constipation by following a high-fiber diet (more than 25 grams of fiber per day) and drinking six to eight 10-ounce glasses of water per day. Avoid straining during bowel movements and long periods of sitting on the toilet.
What does rectocele mean?
A sense of bulging or fullness in your vagina. Problems with sexual intercourse. The need to manually reduce the bulge in your vagina to have a bowel movement. A rectocele should be treated only if your symptoms interfere with your quality of life.
How to stop bowel movement?
These methods include: Avoiding constipation by following a high-fiber diet (more than 25 grams of fiber per day) and drinking 6 to 8 10-ounce glasses of water per day. Avoiding straining during bowel movements and long periods of sitting on the toilet. Using stool softeners if needed.
How to reduce bulge in vagina?
Follow exercises designed to strengthen and retrain the muscles of the pelvic floor. Go to your provider to be fitted with a pessary, a device placed into the vagina to reduce the bulge.
What is the most common surgical repair?
The most common surgical repair is a transvaginal rectocele repair , also called a posterior repair. The rectocele is reached through the vagina. It offers the chance to correct not only the rectocele but a thinned perineum and widened vaginal opening.
How long does it take to repair a pelvic floor?
In most cases, surgery is done under general anesthesia and takes about one hour. The most common surgical repair is a transvaginal rectocele repair, also called a posterior repair.
Why does my vagina have a bulge?
The bulge occurs as a result of thinning and weakening of the band of tissue that separates the vagina from the rectum. This thinning has a number of causes, including: Advanced age. Multiple vaginal childbirths or trauma during childbirth (for example, the use of forceps or the tearing of tissue during delivery).
What are the symptoms of rectocele?
Symptoms of a rectocele may include pelvic, vaginal and rectal pressure. Factors that may increase your risk of developing a rectocele include giving birth vaginally, age, obesity and chronic constipation. Mild cases of rectocele are often improved with nonsurgical therapies, such as bowel training. If symptoms are particularly problematic, your ...
What does it mean when you feel a soft bulge in your vagina?
Rectal pressure or fullness, or the sensation that something is stuck in the rectum. A soft bulge of tissue that can be felt in the vagina (or protrudes outside of the body) Women with a rectocele may also have a secondary prolapse of the other vaginal walls and nearby organs, including the bladder or uterus.
What is the purpose of rectocele repair?
The goal of rectocele repair is to strengthen the wall between the vagina and rectum. In this surgical procedure, the doctor will make an incision into the back wall of the vagina. The layers under the vaginal wall are then sutured together in such a way as to tighten the tissues and reinforce the strength of the wall.
What tests are done to determine if you have a rectocele?
At your appointment, your doctor will discuss your symptoms and review your medical history with you. The doctor will then perform a physical exam to determine the extent of the rectocele and identify any secondary prolapses, if present. Rarely, imaging tests such as ultrasound or MRI may also be performed.
Is a rectocele the same as a rectal prolapse?
A rectocele is not the same thing as rectal prolapse.
What to do if rectocele bulges outside vagina?
This will typically include a reconstructive process that not only repairs the tissue damage in the rectum and vagina, but the surgeon will also repair damage made to surrounding organs or tissue.
Why do pelvic organs shift?
The pelvic organs are supported by various muscles and ligaments. Over time, these tissues stretch as a result of childbirth, excessive straining or age causing the pelvic organs to shift from their normal location.
What does it feel like to pull your pelvis?
You may also notice a pulling or tugging sensation in your pelvis area or a feeling of pressure or pain. This pressure may also rest on other organs like the bladder causing symptoms of stress incontinence. The most prominent symptom for most patients is a soft bulge of tissue in the vagina.
Is a rectocele a defect?
For the benefit of explanation we will consider Rectocele an isolation. A Rectocele is a defect of the support of the posterior vaginal wall and is a type of Vaginal Prolapse.
What is it called when a rectum bulges?
Sometimes, an area of this wall gets weak, and part of the rectum bulges into the vagina. This bulge is called a rectocele. The problem usually develops after the wall is damaged during a vaginal delivery. The bulge may occur after a vaginal delivery, but symptoms may not develop until later in life. Rectoceles are more commonly seen in older women ...
How many women have rectoceles?
In 1 recent study of 125 women in the United States who had rectoceles, the typical patient was about 60 years old, going through menopause, and had gone through 2 or 3 vaginal deliveries.
What to do if you have a bulge in your vagina?
Call your doctor promptly if you discover an abnormal bulge in the wall of your vagina, or if you suddenly develop severe rectal pressure, pain or bleeding. Call your doctor for an appointment if you suffer from chronic constipation, pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse, or any difficulty passing stool.
What is a pessary?
A pessary is a device shaped like a ring, block or plug that is placed into the vagina to support the bulging tissues. Several types of pessaries are in use, some that you may be able to remove and clean daily, others that may require a doctor's visit for periodic removal and cleaning.
Can a rectocele develop after an episiotomy?
Now, however, there is some evidence that rectoceles may develop near healed episiotomies.
Can a small rectocele cause a vaginal bulge?
Symptoms. A small rectocele may not cause any symptoms, especially if it bulges less than 2 centimeters (less than 1 inch) into the vagina. However, larger rectoceles can trigger a variety of rectal and vaginal complaints, including: A feeling that the rectum has not emptied completely after a bowel movement.
Can rectocele be caused by menopause?
Rectoceles are more commonly seen in older women who have entered menopause. Some conditions can increase the risk of developing rectocele, including chronic constipation, chronic cough, repetitive heavy lifting, or any activity that puts pressure on the pelvic floor over time.
What organs are affected by posterior vaginal prolapse?
Many women with posterior vaginal prolapse also experience prolapse of other pelvic organs, such as the bladder, uterus or — for women who have had surgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy) — the top of the vagina.
What does it mean when your rectum is full?
Sensation of rectal pressure or fullness. A feeling that the rectum has not completely emptied after a bowel movement. Sexual concerns, such as feeling embarrassed or sensing looseness in the tone of your vaginal tissue. Many women with posterior vaginal prolapse also experience prolapse of other pelvic organs, such as the bladder, ...
What are the symptoms of a small posterior vaginal prolapse?
Otherwise, you may notice: A soft bulge of tissue in your vagina that might protrude through the vaginal opening. Difficulty having a bowel movement. Sensation of rectal pressure or fullness.
What is a rectocele?
Posterior vaginal prolapse is also called a rectocele (REK-toe-seel). Childbirth and other processes that put pressure on pelvic tissues can lead to posterior vaginal prolapse. A small prolapse may cause no signs or symptoms. If a posterior vaginal prolapse is large, it may create a noticeable bulge of tissue through the vaginal opening.
Why does my vagina prolapse?
Causes. Posterior vaginal prolapse results from pressure on the pelvic floor. Causes of increased pelvic floor pressure include: Chronic constipation or straining with bowel movements. Chronic cough or bronchitis. Repeated heavy lifting. Being overweight or obese.
What happens to the vagina during pregnancy?
Pregnancy and childbirth. The muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that support your vagina become stretched and weakened during pregnancy, labor and delivery. The more pregnancies you have, the greater your chance of developing posterior vaginal prolapse.
How to strengthen pelvic floor muscles after birth?
Perform Kegel exercises regularly . These exercises can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles — especially important after you have a baby. Treat and prevent constipation. Drink plenty of fluids and eat high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans and whole-grain cereals.
What hormones are used to treat rectocele?
Ask your healthcare provider for more information about biofeedback. Estrogen is a hormone that may be taken as a pill, or applied as a vaginal cream. Estrogen helps keep your pelvic muscles strong and may prevent your rectocele from getting worse.
What increases the risk of rectocele?
What increases my risk for a rectocele? Pregnancy and childbirth. Lower estrogen levels from older age or menopause. Anything that strains your pelvic muscles, such as obesity, chronic constipation or straining during bowel movements, severe coughing, or lifting heavy objects.
How to prevent constipation from bowel movement?
Prevent constipation by drinking plenty of liquids and eating foods high in fiber. Ask how much liquid to drink every day. High-fiber foods include fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Do Kegel exercises regularly.
How to get rid of pelvic floor pain?
These exercises can help your pelvic floor muscles get stronger. Tighten the muscles of your pelvis (the muscles you use to stop urinating). Hold the muscles tight for 5 seconds, then relax for 5 seconds.
What test is used to check the size and location of a rectocele?
You may also need any of the following tests: A pelvic exam is used to check the size and location of a rectocele. Your healthcare provider will use a speculum to widen your vagina. Then you will strain or push down like you are having a bowel movement.
What is the purpose of X-rays?
The barium makes an x-ray outline of your rectum and anus. An MRI, ultrasound, or moving x-ray may be used to check your bowels, vagina, bladder, or rectum. You may be given contrast liquid to help the area show up better in pictures.
How to get rid of a swollen thigh muscle?
Hold the muscles tight for 5 seconds, then relax for 5 seconds. Gradually work up to holding the muscles for 10 seconds. Do at least 3 sets of 10 repetitions a day. Drink liquids as directed. Ask your healthcare provider how much liquid to drink each day and which liquids are best for you.
How to get rid of a swollen pelvic floor?
Here is how you can do them: Try tightening your pelvic floor muscles slowly for 3 seconds. You will feel like you are lifting them or like you are holding your pee. Then release for 3 seconds. Do this 10 times at a stretch. This is one set. You should do one set of Kegel exercises 2-3 times a day.
What does it feel like to have a small rectocele?
Over time, you may experience: Feeling a soft bulge in your vagina (that may even come out on straining at stools) A sensation of heaviness in the rectum. Difficulty in passing stools. A feeling of incomplete evacuation of bowels.
How to prevent rectocele?
Avoid constipation by following a healthy diet and regular exercise. Take a stool softener to keep your bowel movements soft. Have plenty of water throughout the day (6-8 ounces) Keep weight under check. Avoid straining at stools ( bearing down worsens the rectocele) Avoid heavy lifting.
How to stop constipation from a swollen bowel?
Avoid heavy lifting. Control coughing (you can use over the counter cough suppressants) Do pelvic floor muscle-strengthening exercises. A high- fiber (25 grams/day) diet is a healthy option that helps in treating constipation as well as is useful in controlling weight gain.
What tests are done to determine the size of the rectocele?
The doctor will order a few tests that include: Magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ): This will help the doctor know the size of the rectocele. Defecography: This is a special X-ray series that shows the movements of the pelvic muscles while you defecate.
How to increase fiber intake?
You can increase your fiber intake by replacing processed foods, fatty foods, and meat with plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Adequate intake of water and fibers will help you to pass softer, bulkier stools, thereby avoiding the need to strain at stools.
Can you fix a rectocele?
As it is a structural ( anatomical) defect, you cannot fix a rectocele by natural means alone. However, you can follow some simple lifestyle tips to relieve its symptoms.
