Rectal Vaginal Fistula

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Hello again! My first attempt was successful as well. I didn't even think about sex until the doctor gave me the all clear at my six week check up. I was very nervous, but the doctor said it was okay. So far, so good...it has been a little over 2 years. :-)

As far as having another baby, I feel the same way...I think about it, but it scares me. PLus, my question for anyone who knows, is it even worth trying to have a vaginal delivery after such an ordeal? I know it is crazy, but I feel a bit resentful that my first delivery was so, well, was not at all what I wanted and had such a terrible outcome in the way of the rectal vaginal tear. I was told to opt for c-section as well. But, I have heard the recovery for that is not easy either.

I am so happy I have just discovered this site. My daughter turned 1 today and i have been living with a rectovaginal fistual for a year. I have had 1 surgery which failed and at the moment I am too scared to go for another, therefore I am living with my symptoms. The Doctor who delivered my baby diagnosed and repaired my tear as a 2nd degree, when in fact it was a 4th degree with a fistula. I have started legal proceedings against this hospital for medical negligence. Has anyone else taken these steps?

Hi, it has been almost five years since I had my child. I was only 18 at that time. Very embarrased, I went back to my doctor about six months after having my child to tell him about passing gas and stool through my vagina. He basically told me I was crazy and if something was wrong I would have to pay alot to get it fixed. He did a rectal exam and told me nothing was wrong, I was just probably stressed. Five years later, I am still living with the symptoms, and I am too embarrased to go back to another doctor. I have learned for the most part to control the passage of gas; except for the occasional getting up and it just slipping out :$ Stool does not just leak out, but after I go to the bathroom and then wipe, there is stool coming out of the vagina. :$ My husband and I are trying to have another baby (we have been trying for about 6 months and can't- I wonder if it has anything to do with the RVF). I plan to mention the "problem" to my new ob/gyn doctor; maybe it can be fixed when I have my next child (if I can have another baby). Do you think it is safe to get pregnant right now? signed- really really scared!!

Hi all,

To EllasMummy... I thought about taking a legal action but it will take too much time. My medical records indicate that I had a fourth degree tear and OB indicated that she did a fourth degree repair. Not sure why I ended up with RVF? How do you know that they did a second degree repair ?

As far as another Vaginal birth or a C-section... I will go for a C-section.I was scared to have a vaginal delivery to begin with and what I understand is C-section is a cake walk. Everyone is surprised that the doctors waited for so long and went with a vaginal delivery for me. If I have another baby then I have already decided to have it via a c-section.
Having experienced vaginal birth for one is good for me :-)

I don't think one should be embarassed about talking about this problem with a doctor. Doctors are the ones with whom we should be discussing our medical problems. If you are not comfortable with opening up with a particular doctor then shop around for a doctor with whom you can discuss. Not talking about it will just make it worse. You are so young and you should work on getting it fixed to have a better life. My 2 cents

I have my 6 week appointment coming up. Just hoping everything will be ok. What kind of tests were done at 6 weeks to make sure everything is okay ?

I have been suffering from a rectal-vaginal fistula repair for over 10 years now. I had a baby at 16 years old. My doctor was an id**t, small town know-nothing doctor that had/has no business practicing medicine. I was very small, only 91 pounds when I got pregnant at 15. My body was not able to handle delivering a 9 pound baby. Therefor, I had a 4th degree tear. It wasn't for months later that I noticed something was wrong, stoole in the pants, gas and BM passing through the vagina. I went to an actual OBGYN in a nearby city and he was appauled by my story. He said I NEVER should have had the baby naturally. He did surgery and said I should be fine, forever. Well I was and am not fine. I have struggled with this for years. I went back to that doctor SEVERAL times but he said everything looked fine and that I was "normal". Well, I have not felt "normal" since then. Anyways, to make a very long story short, My husband and I had our first son a year ago (I gave up the previous baby for adoption due to my age). Obviously I had a c-section! During that pregnancy I noticed that most of my symtoms had stopped. I was thrilled! Come to find out it was from the pre-natal vitamins! They made me a bit constipated and made my stooles hard. I have never been so happy! I finally felt a little normal. I wasn't affraid to go places any more! This was pretty short lived though. I recently found out that my fistula repair has tore and is tearing more and more each day. I am pregnant with our second child now and am told there is nothing anyone can do about it till I have my baby. It's a never ending circle. This has made my life a living hell. I only hope and pray that my stools stay hard so I don't end up having an accident. So, anyways, I wanted to let you all know that you should really try taking pre-natal vitamins! It worked for me and I hope it continues to work. However, I fear that it will eventaully not be enough seens how everyday I just continue to tear a little more.