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Rectal Prolapse
A condition that occurs when part of the large intestine slips outside the anus.
Rectal prolapse typically occurs in older women, but it can occur in men and women of any age. Risk factors include multiple births and vaginal delivery.
Rectal prolapse can create an inability to control bowel movements, causing stool to leak from the rectum. Early management includes fluids and pelvic floor exercises. Most people will eventually need surgery.
Rectal prolapse occurs when part of the large intestine’s lowest section (rectum) slips outside the muscular opening at the end of the digestive tract (anus). While rectal prolapse may cause discomfort, it’s rarely a medical emergency.
Rectal prolapse can sometimes be treated with stool softeners, suppositories and other medications. But surgery is usually needed to treat rectal prolapse.
Symptoms
If you have rectal prolapse, you may notice a reddish mass that comes out of the anus, often while straining while passing stools.
The mass may slip back inside the anus, or it may remain visible.
Other symptoms may include:
The inability to control bowel movements (fecal incontinence)
Constipation or diarrhea
Leaking blood or mucus from the rectum
Feeling that your rectum isn’t empty after a bowel movement
Causes
The cause for rectal prolapse is unclear. Though it’s a common assumption that rectal prolapse is associated with childbirth, about one-third of women with the condition have never had children.
