Hey, pssst, come closer, I’m going to share a little known fact with you — women can get hernias too. A pelvic organ prolapse or POP, is a hernia of the vagina and is caused by weakening of the vaginal tissues. You may hear your doctor use these terms when she talks about POP: rectocele, a dropped rectum.
A Rectocele rectocele occurs when the thin wall of fibrous tissue (fascia) that separates the rectum from the vagina weakens causing the rectum to droop into the vagina. A rectocele can range from being mild to more severe.
How do I know if I have a Rectocele?
Have you felt something strange sticking out beyond the opening of the vagina, have you felt something odd or in the way during sexual intercourse, have you sat down only to feel like you might have sat on something, have you urinated and felt like something is causing your urine stream to be obstructed? If your answers to these questions are mainly yes, then you may have a rectocele.
How did I get a Rectocele?
Although this is not something most women want to talk about, it is a very common condition that one out of three women will experience in their lifetime. Although no one wants to develop a rectocele, take comfort in that fact that because it is common, treatment is highly effective.
Rectoceles often develop as an aftereffect from vaginal childbirths. As we age, the vagina muscles that used to be strong and bounced back easily from the strains and stress of childbirth, begin to grow weaker. As these muscles weaken, other organs have greater ability to droop lower and eventually can fall into the vagina.
What are the treatments for Rectocele?
Having a rectocele can cause insecurities leading to a lower quality of life. We understand this. We know that you want your body to function like it always has and we want you to move and act with confidence. At the office of Dr. Alvarez and Dr. Padron, our doctors offer many forms of treatment such as No-Mesh Pelvic Prolapse surgery, native tissue repairs, daVinci Robotic prolapse surgery, and even vaginal synthetic augmentations in the case of distinct situations. The most important thing to remember when seeking treatment, is that you do what is best for you, at your age, and for your lifestyle. Remember, this is about you, so seek out many opinions and feel confident in your decision.