Can you recommend strategies to help me manage my posterior vaginal prolapse?
Ask the doctors
Q.
I was recently diagnosed with rectocele. My doctor says I don't need surgery. How can I manage some of the discomfort that I experience during bowel movements?
A. Rectocele (formally known as posterior vaginal prolapse) occurs when the wall of tissue separating the vagina and rectum weakens over time, sometimes because of the strain of childbirth. This allows the rectal tissue to bulge into the back wall of the vagina. Some women with this condition find it more difficult to have a bowel movement, in addition to having other symptoms. They may feel like they can't empty their bowels completely, or they may leak stool unexpectedly. Rectocele can often be successfully managed by making lifestyle changes to soften stool and avoid constipation, such as eating a high-fiber diet and drinking enough water. You might also want to discuss other options with your doctor, including pelvic floor physical therapy, to strengthen the pelvic muscles, or a support device called a pessary.
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About the Authors
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Hope Ricciotti, MD, Editor at Large, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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