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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staff
Treatment depends on the severity of the rectocele. If your rectocele causes few or no obvious symptoms, you may need no treatment or find that simple self-care measures work well, such as performing exercises called Kegels to strengthen your pelvic muscles.
If these measures fail to help, your doctor may recommend:
- Pessary. A vaginal pessary is a plastic or rubber ring inserted in the vagina to support the bulging tissues. Several types of pessaries are available, including some you can remove to clean, and others your doctor must remove periodically to clean. Because they have a high "hassle factor," many women choose not to use this method.
- Surgery. If the rectocele protrudes outside your vagina and is especially bothersome, you may opt for surgery. More commonly, your doctor may suggest surgery if the rectocele accompanies another condition, such as a cystocele, an enterocele or uterine prolapse. In these cases, surgical repair for each condition can be completed at the same time.
Surgery usually consists of removing excess, stretched tissue that forms the rectocele. In most cases, this is done using a vaginal surgical approach. Occasionally, the surgical repair may involve using a mesh patch to support and strengthen the wall between the rectum and vagina.
- Park AJ, et al. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and nonsurgical management of posterior vaginal defects. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 8, 2010.
- Tarnay CM. Pelvic organ prolapse. In: DeCherney AH, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment Obstetrics & Gynecology. 10th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2390520. Accessed Feb. 8, 2010.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Pelvic organ prolapse. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2007;110:717.
- Hughes D, et al. Pelvic organ prolapse. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3159899. Accessed Feb. 8, 2010.
- Park AJ, et al. Surgical management of posterior vaginal defects. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 8, 2010.
- Cundiff GW, et al. Evaluation and treatment of women with rectocele: Focus on associated defecatory and sexual dysfunction. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2004;104:1403.
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