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By Mayo Clinic staff
Rectal prolapse surgery is performed in people troubled by chronic symptoms, including difficulty pushing the rectum back in place, leakage of stool or inability to control bowel movements (fecal incontinence), or obstructed bowel movements. The problem is most common in elderly women.
For occasional rectal prolapse, self-care measures may help
For some people, minor rectal prolapse occurs occasionally when they strain to have a bowel movement. In these people, rectal prolapse may go away on its own. Rectal prolapse may be prevented by eating a high-fiber diet, drinking plenty of liquids, and taking laxatives, stool softeners and stool-bulking agents.
- Rectal prolapse. American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons. http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/rectal_prolapse/. Accessed April 17, 2013.
- Townsend CM Jr, et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery: The Biological Basis of Modern Surgical Practice. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1565/0.html. Accessed April 17, 2013.
- Jones OM et al. The assessment and management of rectal prolapse, rectal intussusception, rectocele, and enterocele in adults. BMJ. 2011;342:c7099.
- Varma MG et al. Surgical approach to rectal procidentia (rectal prolapse). http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed April 18, 2013.
- Chua HK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 25, 2013.
- Picco MF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 30, 2013.
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