Rectocele (intestinal hernia) is a disease that can affect women badly. The rectum is the last part of the large intestine, which protrudes into the vagina in the female reproductive system. In some cases, it causes significant problems in the body, even if it does not manifest itself. The wall in the vagina weakens for various reasons and as a result, it occurs.
A rectocele is the protrusion of the last part of the large intestine into the vagina in women, also known as an intestinal hernia. In women, the vagina is a muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body. It is an organ where childbirth takes place and becomes part of the menstrual cycle. When a part of the intestine forms a pocket inside this organ, it causes some health problems. Problems such as constipation, pain and obstruction in the stool may occur. If there is a weakness in the structure where the vagina and large intestine are located due to birth or anatomical reasons, an intestinal hernia occurs. In cases where no action is taken for treatment, other health problems such as hemorrhoids or cracks in the anus may also occur. Therefore, it is very important to determine the problems that cause rectocele and to create a treatment plan appropriate to this situation.
What are the Symptoms of Rectocele?
Rectocele is caused by pressure and trauma to the upper part of the pelvic floor area. The symptoms of a bowel hernia may not be felt continuously. It can also cause complaints when it grows. Some of the symptoms of the rectum and vagina that may occur due to a bowel hernia are as follows;
- Constipation
- Pain in the rectum
- Constantly wanting to go to the toilet
- Feeling of fullness in the vagina
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Intestines are also a problem
- Feeling a protrusion of soft tissue in the vagina
- Feeling like sitting on a ball
What are the Risk Factors for Intestinal Hernia?
Rectocele may occur as a result of weakness of the muscles and structures that make up the vaginal wall for various reasons. Intestinal hernia may occur due to thinning of the structures in the large intestine and vagina or weakening of the muscles. In addition, the development of rectocele may be much more common in some individuals. We can list the risk factors of rectocele as follows;
- Those who give birth normally
- Traumatic normal births
- People with a history of constipation
- People who strain excessively during defecation
- Uterine or rectal surgery
- People with persistent and prolonged coughing
- Obese individuals
- Individuals whose muscles weaken due to estrogen deficiency during menopause
How is a bowel hernia diagnosed?
Intestinal hernia is called posterior vaginal prolapse in medicine. It is a condition in which the rectum region, which is the end part of the large intestine, exceeds the vaginal wall and forms a pocket. This condition is diagnosed after the person is examined by gynecology and obstetrics and general surgeons. Rectocele of small size does not cause symptoms. Some tests in addition to physical control help in the diagnosis. We can list the methods of diagnosing intestinal hernia as follows;
Defecography The type of X-ray that shows the rectum and stool section during defecation is called defecography. It shows the size of the intestinal hernia and the defecation rate in detail.
Ultrasound scanning: This type of imaging, called ultrasound, examines the soft structures and organs inside the body in real time. This type of scan can be used to visualize an intestinal hernia and measure its size.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): With the MRI technique, the pelvic organ can be clearly observed.
How is Rectocele Treated?
Rectocele may not require treatment when there is no complaint. However, in the presence of symptoms that have reached the points that affect daily life, surgical or non-surgical treatment techniques can be applied. First of all, a specialist physician should determine whether the symptoms are caused by rectocele. With this, the factors that cause rectocele formation can be determined and treatment can be planned for this situation. Some of the methods applied for the treatment of rectocele are as follows;
Non-surgical treatments: Rectocele treatment that does not require surgery aims to regulate the intestines and make it easier to go to the toilet. The rectum can be emptied more simply and prevent intestinal hernia. Non-surgical intestinal hernia techniques that are applied with the doctor's recommendation are as follows;
- Abundant fluid consumption
- Not straining excessively during a large toilet
- Not eating the majority of foods containing fiber
- Taking medicines that soften the stool
- Hormonal treatment
- No heavy lifting
- Keeping cough under control
- Avoiding excessive weight gain
Surgical treatments: In people with rectocele disease who do not achieve positive results with non-surgical treatment techniques, surgical treatment methods are used with expert approval. However, if there is a severe intestinal hernia that affects daily life badly, the solution can only be surgical techniques.