Pregnancy and childbirth can cause a number of challenging medical issues after the fact, even if you have a fairly uneventful experience. One of the most common issues associated with childbirth is rectal prolapse. Unfortunately, many women go through this, and the only option that can actually treat the condition is surgery.
At Boca Care Surgical Associates, we understand rectal prolapse and how to repair it. Avraham Belizon, MD, FACS, FASCRS, provides safe, effective surgical options for this condition, making it much easier to live pain-free.
First and foremost, women are much more likely to experience this condition. In fact, about 80 to 90 percent of those diagnosed with rectal prolapse are women. This might be one reason why the medical community associates rectal prolapse with childbirth.
Though about one-third of women with this condition haven’t had children, the majority have. Doctors believe this could be associated with the strain one puts on the lower body during pregnancy and delivery, especially when giving birth. Many people also experience the same issue after years of straining to pass bowel movements.
Whatever the case, if you’ve had children and you begin to experience the symptoms of rectal prolapse — which include fecal incontinence, constipation or diarrhea, and a lump of flesh pushing through the anus, especially during a bowel movement — it’s probably time to get checked for this condition.
There are many ways to manage this condition at home, some of which include
All of these actions can make it easier to live with rectal prolapse. If your condition was likely caused by having children, you may find relief with some of these at-home remedies. Unfortunately, though, none of them will cure the condition.
Treating rectal prolapse that occurred after giving birth is the same as treating it when it’s caused by anything else: surgery. Without surgery, you won’t be able to reverse this condition effectively and you’ll deal with flare ups and likely worsening symptoms as time goes on.
The surgical repair process starts with a meeting between you and Dr. Belizon. He will give you a physical exam and determine if you’re a good candidate for surgery. After that, you may need to submit to a few tests, but usually, you can schedule your surgery whenever is most convenient.
Surgery for rectal prolapse isn’t all the same. Sometimes, it’s a relatively minor procedure involving Dr. Belizon repairing only the inner part of your bowel. In some cases, the whole rectum wall must be restored. In rarer cases, part of your rectum may need to be removed entirely.
This all depends on the severity of your condition. In surgery, Dr. Belizon uses advanced, minimally invasive techniques to keep the surgery as mild as possible and to aid in a quicker recovery. A full recovery from this procedure usually takes several weeks.
If you have experienced the symptoms of rectal prolapse after giving birth, even if it was years ago, you may be dealing with this condition. Unfortunately, there is no way to recover unless you seek surgery fully. However, our team is highly efficient and considerate as we focus on helping our patients achieve a better quality of life.
To make an appointment at our Boca Raton, FL, office today, call or visit us online. We’d be happy to discuss your symptoms and provide all the information you need about rectal prolapse and its surgical treatments.
