The symptoms of rectal prolapse depend on the severity, but can include: Pain and discomfort felt deep within the lower abdomen. Blood and mucus from the anus. The feeling of constipation, or that the rectum is never completely emptied after passing a motion.
Mild small bowel prolapse may produce no signs or symptoms. However, if you have significant prolapse, you might experience: A pulling sensation in your pelvis that eases when you lie down. A feeling of pelvic fullness, pressure or pain.
constipation – feeling like you're unable to have a poo. having bright red blood coming from your rectum. slimy mucus coming from your rectum, which can be constant and need a pad to stop underwear getting wet. feeling some discomfort or pain.
If you feel like you're sitting on a ball after pooping, or if you notice that you have something sticking out of the opening (your anus) where you poop, you could have rectal prolapse. Typically, you'll first experience rectal prolapse after you have a bowel movement.
What are the symptoms of rectal prolapse? Without treatment, symptoms such as constipation and bowel control problems may get worse. Over time, the rectum may drop through the anus more often and more easily. The rectum may not go back inside the body on its own and may need to be pushed back into place.
Anal surgery – under anaesthesia, the surgeon gently pulls out the prolapsed bowel through the anus. The prolapsed section of bowel is usually removed and the structural damage repaired. The bowel is rejoined and returned back through the anus to restore normal bowel function and appearance.
As noted earlier, the diagnosis of rectal prolapse is often made on physical examination alone. However, other tests are often used in the evaluation of a patient with rectal prolapse. These may include colonoscopy, defecography, transit studies, and anal manometry.
Is rectal prolapse serious? It's not urgently serious, but it can cause discomfort for some people, and it can lead to possible complications down the road. The most common complications are pooping difficulties, such as fecal incontinence.
Posterior Wall Prolapse (Rectocele or Enterocele)
Symptoms typically include: A bulge sensation. Problems having a bowel movement such as straining more with bowel movements and the feeling of not completely emptying the bowels. The need to put your finger in or around the vagina or rectum to help empty bowels.
To relieve pressure on your vagina, lie down and put a pillow under your knees. Or you can lie on your side and bring your knees up to your chest. If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about safe ways to lose weight.
Pelvic organ prolapse isn't life-threatening. In some cases it can cause little or no problems. However, in more severe cases, it may feel very uncomfortable. It might stop you doing the things that you enjoy, and affect your quality of life.
A rectal prolapse can be treated by surgery called a perineal repair (Delorme's operation or Altemeier procedure). During surgery, the lining of the bowel, or the section of bowel that has prolapsed, is removed and stitched back together.
a feeling of heaviness around your lower tummy and genitals. a dragging discomfort inside your vagina. feeling like there's something coming down into your vagina – it may feel like sitting on a small ball. feeling or seeing a bulge or lump in or coming out of your vagina.
Obstructed defecation. Many women with vaginal prolapse also have difficulty with complete bowel evacuation. This may manifest as sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation were the faeces may become trapped in the rectocoele (bowel prolapse into the vagina) as seen in the diagram.
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.
Small bowel prolapse typically doesn't need treatment if the symptoms don't trouble you. Surgery may be effective if you have advanced prolapse with bothersome symptoms. Nonsurgical approaches are available if you wish to avoid surgery, if surgery would be too risky or if you want to become pregnant in the future.
It is generally safe to leave prolapse untreated unless the prolapse is very large or causes difficulty with bowel or bladder emptying.
The rectal prolapse can't be pushed back into the rectum. It can cause the blood supply to the prolapse to be cut off. This is called strangulation. It's painful and needs emergency treatment.
Consider surgery if the prolapse is causing pain, if you are having problems with your bladder and bowels, or if the prolapse is making it hard for you to do activities you enjoy. An organ can prolapse again after surgery. Surgery in one part of your pelvis can make a prolapse in another part worse.
Abdominal bloating and/or flatulence can be a huge problem for women with prolapse problems. Some ladies find that by the end of the day their abdomen is so bloated that it puts strain on their belly and their prolapse causing abdominal pain and pelvic floor dragging and bulging.
Common causes of fecal incontinence include diarrhea, constipation, and muscle or nerve damage. The muscle or nerve damage may be associated with aging or with giving birth. Whatever the cause, fecal incontinence can be difficult to discuss. But don't shy away from talking to your doctor about this common problem.
Prolapse occurs when a woman's pelvic floor muscles, tissues and ligaments weaken and stretch. This can result in organs dropping out of their normal position.
During surgery, the lining of the bowel, or the section of bowel that has prolapsed, is removed and stitched back together. The surgery takes about 1 hour and is done using a spinal or general anaesthetic. You will need to stay in hospital for a couple of days after surgery to recover.