Rectal Vaginal Fistula

mallory · Silver Member Joined: 13 Jan 2000 Posts: 269

Hello. I'm 25 year old female and I'm pregnant for three months now. Just the other day I have heard one story that got me really frightened. Good friend of mine told me story about some relative of hers which, after the labor, developed some terrible condition in which stool and gas were passing through her vagina.
I couldn’t believe when I heard it and I don’t believe even now in that. Supposedly, this condition is called rectal vaginal fistula! Could this story be true or this is just another rumor made to frighten young pregnant females? Please tell me more about this if you have any information!

causer · Newbie Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 10

Hi. I see that you panic a bit about all this and that you’re afraid but you really don’t have reason for all that. Condition called Recto-Vaginal fistula really exist and it represents opening that forms in the tissue between the rectum and vagina- one type of abnormal communication between these two organs.
Symptoms are really stool and gas in vagina. Although this condition may appear after labor because of large baby and small vaginal opening- it is still very rare and chances that you will develop it are microscopic.
Anyway, it can be easily surgically treated and the surgery is called a peri-anal reconstruction, or sphincteroplasty.

Guest · Guest

I am 26 year old women with 2 kids. I had my first child at 18 yrs and had a rectal vaginal fistula. I just had my third surgery to repair my rectal muscles that were damaged during the birth of my first child. Please keep in mind he was a big baby and my doctor did not know what he was doing he used a vacum on the baby to try and deliver him then he gave me episiotomy. My child is 8 years old and am still having trouble and my 2 child was delivered by c-cection. I don't want to scare anyone but this is a real thing that can change your life. I had never heard of anything like myself until it happend to me. I really think there should be more information on this.

Guest · Guest

Someone posted rectal vaginal fistulas are easy to repair..please, give me the info to your doctor! They are not easy to repair, at all...I have yet to meet anyone who got theirs repaired on the first try. Unfortunately millions of people are suffering from all kinds of fistulas. I am on my 3rd surgery and hoping this last one is a sucess.. if you think you have a fistula, find a good colo-rectal surgeon.. do not go to your gyno.. that was my first mistake,,my obgyn sent me to a urologist to fix the problem!

Guest · Guest

I am 27 and gave birth to my first child just over 3 months ago. During my pregnancy I was very worried about getting an episiotomy. I did get one and while it was done I was too busy with labor to care. And the days that followed, I was uncomfortable and took mild pain killers. But 7 days later I had a bowel movement and passed stool through my vagina. I was terrified to say the least. Apparently, my episiotomy tore through my vaginal-rectal wall which is very thin. After 2 months of seeing a specialist weekly for chemical cauderisation that did not correct it I had surgery to repair the problem. It has been 6 weeks now and I am still having problems. It is not painfull just uncomfortable. I have been unable to take a bath, go swimming or have sex for over three months now.

Katherine Camarillo · Newbie Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 1

I ( have had three perinal surgeries to fix my fistula no luck. I then had sugery on my rectum still no luck. I then went to a hospital in another state with the best doctors availabel. I had a c-ton put in this releaves the abcess as it gives the infection a drainage hole. I then had a musel removed from my left thigh whichwas to block the fistula.(like a road block) This did not work i got an infection and the musel died another two surgeries to remove the dead musel and infection 21 days in the hospital. After this i again tried a new proceedure where a plug is inserted between the vagina and rectum this did not work. i am at this time draining stool between the vagina and rectum i also pass gas here. The doctor would like to do a colostimy i am very confused and at the end. Other than this i have no health problems.

Tycoka · Newbie Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Posts: 2

I am 35 years old and have 3 wonderful children. when I had my last child going on nine years ago. I had a fourth degree laseration that I was never informed about and was never repaired. My Dr fixed the outside and never looked on the inside. I started having problems about six weeks after I had her. We didnt figure out the problem for 8 years. In november 2005 I had a anal spencter plastie with a vaginal fistula repair. I have now had fifteen surgerys and it is still not fixed. Im due for another surgery on monday... I was so happy to find this web site... I thought I was the only one.... hope this helps some one else

krisss · Newbie Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Posts: 4

HI-I can relate to everyone here! I had my daughter about 4 years ago. I didn't want to be cut, but was anyway. I wanted to have a natural birth, but was induced. I didn't want anything that happened during the actual delvery to happen, but it did. I felt taken advantage of by the doctors, since this was my first baby. I now know a little better.

I was cut for a baby who was 7 pounds and 6 ounces!!! Fourth degree lacerations. They did not repair them, and I was passing gas and stool through my vagina after 6 weeks. I had yeast infections all the time, was irrated all the time, was paranoid that I smelled. I used baby wipes to clean myself. I had to wear tissue in my panties, so I didn't mess myself without knowing it.

However, I was lucky. I found an excellent surgeon, who after I figured out what was going on with me, corrected my fistula two years ago. My obgyn told me I was crazy and gave me a pill for a yeast infection when I told him what my issues were. Low and behold, I just didn't have enough proof that they were in the wrong!! PLease.. I agree. More needs to be out there about this issue. The colo-rectal doctors I went to see afterwards told me that it is a big problem and that is not uncommon at all as a result of vaginal birth. Mine was needless and careless on the doctor's part.

Thank goodness I found CLeveland Clinic in Ft. Lauderdale and Dr. Weiss. He and the staff there were excellent, professional and answered my many questions on the surgery! He also had a high success rate with this particular surgery.

I hope this helps someone. If you are about to give birth, please make sure you know what you want. Don't let them cut you!!!! It could effect your life, as you have read.

jmikucki · Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 1

I had a fourth degree tear, which basically means the doctor cut me from front to back. My baby was only 6lbs. 14oz. A week and half after the delivery I figured out that I had a rectovaginal fistula. The doctors acted like they weren't sure I had one and mentioned they hadn't seen one in 15 years. Come to find out, this happens a lot more than doctors let on. I took matters into my own hands and found a surgeon who will be trying to fix it in October. I am only 7 wks postpartum. I wonder how come they didn't do an emergency c-section instead. Hopefully, the surgeon will be able to fix it because it is absolutely miserable! The gyns were no help at all and acted like this has never happened before. I wish there was some recourse, given that my quality of life has been greatly affected.

gogi-rao · Newbie Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 15

I gave birth to a baby girl who weighed 9 pounds 6 months ago. I never had any contractions and was induced. Every step was induced. This is not what I wanted. Finally the doctor [who thought baby is 6 pounds] ended up doing a vaccum assisted delivery. I had a fourth degree tear.
She repaired and gave very minimal instructions. Fifth week I noticed that I was passing gas from vagina and figured that it was a problem. At my sixth week checkup my OB said that I have RVF. They said it is unfortunate and it happens when an area of the tissue is bad. They said they can't figure out that tissue is dead when they are stictching and so it ends up tearing at a later time. I was so horrified. I did lookup and found very little information. I went back to the OB who delivered the baby [not the one I was seeing] and she said whatever my OB said. They both admitted that they cannot repair and recommended me to see a Urogynecologist. I contemplated which surgeon to go with [Colorectal or Urogynecologist]. For some reason I went ahead with the Urogynecologist. She repaired it about 5 & 1/2 weeks back. I was recommended to be on a low residue diet and not lift anything more than 5 pounds for 6 weeks. She also put me on peri-colasce.So far so good.
I have my 6 weeks checkup coming up.

I think the surgery can be successful the first time and the key is for proper diet and care.

I read that many folks here have had multiple attempts. It is scary. Was there any reason why it broke down ?

Also for those whose surgery was successful... was there stigma for sex ?
What other care are you guys taking ? What are the chances of it reoccuring ?

All the OB and surgeons have said I need to have an elective c-section if I have another kid. With this experience I am even afraid to think of another one

Rectal Vaginal Fistula

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