Do I Have Rectal Prolapse?

Do you have pain and discomfort felt deep within your lower abdomen?

Do you have an anal pain, itching, or irritation?

Do you feel a bulge outside your anus?

Do you have a visible bright red tissue that sticks out of the anus?

Do you have a leakage of stool from the anus (fecal incontinence)?

Do you have a leakage of mucus from the anus (wet anus)?

Do you have a bright red blood on a toilet paper?

Do you have bleeding from your anus?

Do you have the feeling of not being able to empty the bowels completely?

Do you have an urgent need to have a bowel movement?

Do you feel that you have reduced ability to control your bowels?

Do you have to use huge quantities of toilet paper to clean up following a bowel motion?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a rectal prolapse. Rectal prolapse is a medical condition in which the rectum (the lower part of the large intestine) slides out of its natural position and protrudes through the anus. Rectal prolapse is not the same as hemorrhoids – these two conditions are commonly mistaken for one another. Rectal prolapse is six time more common in women over the age of 50 than in men. It is usually not a serious condition, but it can be embarrassing and often negatively affect a person‘s quality of life.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a rectal prolapse. Rectal prolapse is a health condition in which the part of the entire rectum falls out of its normal position and slides through the anal opening. The rectum is the last part of the large intestine. There are three types of rectal prolapse: partial (a small part of the rectum comes out of the anus; this can usually happen when you strain to make a bowel movement), complete (the entire rectum sticks out of the anus) and internal (the rectum has started to slide, but still does not come out of your anus).

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a rectal prolapse. Rectal prolapse occurs when the rectum (the last part of the colon) descends from its normal position in the body and protrudes through the anus. There are many factors associated with this condition, but the exact cause is still unknown. A diagnosis is usually based on your medical history and anorectal examination. Your doctor may suggest a sigmoidoscopy, a colonoscopy or a barium enema to rule out other conditions. In adults, rectal prolapse should be corrected surgically. The surgical approach will depend on the extent of the prolapse.