Can you get pregnant with rectal prolapse?

Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on September 26, 2024
00:00
00:00

Patients with rectal prolapse can become pregnant, but if diagnosed with rectal prolapse before pregnancy, it is advisable to first surgically remove the prolapsed mucosa. This is because during pregnancy, as the fetus grows, the pressure in the abdominal cavity gradually increases. Female patients may experience worsening of the rectal prolapse due to increased abdominal pressure, which could lead to increased congestion and edema, thereby exacerbating the severity of existing hemorrhoids or the severity of the rectal prolapse. Therefore, if there are symptoms of rectal prolapse before pregnancy, surgical treatment is recommended. If rectal prolapse occurs during pregnancy, conservative treatment with traditional Chinese medicine enemas can be chosen, and surgery can be considered after childbirth.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
1min 1sec home-news-image

Postoperative Care for Rectal Prolapse Surgery

Post-Rectal Prolapse Surgery Precautions: 1. Rest in bed, which helps improve the recovery rate. Due to gravity, many patients with rectal prolapse experience prolapse when standing or walking. Although the surgery fixes the prolapsed mucosa, the firmness of the fixation takes time to establish. Therefore, it is recommended to rest in bed with limited activity for one week after the surgery to solidify the therapeutic effects. 2. Take oral antibiotics for 7 to 10 days after surgery. 3. Abstain from food for the first two days after surgery, and consume semi-liquid or liquid foods in reduced quantities on the third day. 4. Refrain from defecating for 4 to 5 days after surgery. 5. Do not strain during the first bowel movement after surgery. (Please use medications under the guidance of a professional physician)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
1min 4sec home-news-image

Which department to consult for rectal prolapse?

Rectal prolapse is generally divided into internal mucosal prolapse and external prolapse. External mucosal prolapse is commonly known as rectal prolapse, which falls under the category of proctological diseases. Therefore, patients who suspect they have rectal prolapse should promptly visit a proctology department for relevant examinations and treatment. The examination and diagnosis of rectal prolapse mainly involve digital rectal examination, anoscopy, and defecography to confirm the diagnosis. Especially for internal mucosal prolapse, which cannot be seen with the naked eye, defecography is necessary for differentiation. In cases of rectal prolapse, one can generally see a ring-like protrusion outside the anus, and in severe cases, there may be conical or cylindrical prolapse. Regardless of whether it is internal mucosal prolapse or rectal prolapse, surgical treatment is necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
59sec home-news-image

Will rectal prolapse cause the stool to become thinner?

Patients with rectal prolapse may experience a narrowing of their stool, which is primarily due to the relaxation of the rectal mucosa associated with rectal prolapse. The relaxed mucosa accumulates at the anus, blocking the passage of feces and thus altering the shape of the stool as it is expelled, generally resulting in thinner or flattened stools. Therefore, if it is definitively diagnosed that the change in stool shape is due to rectal prolapse, surgical treatment is recommended. The surgery involves excising or suturing the excessively relaxed rectal mucosa to allow for a smoother passage of stool and to prevent alterations in stool shape. Additionally, it is important for patients to maintain good lifestyle and bowel habits post-surgery, spend minimal time defecating, and avoid prolonged squatting or straining actions.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
54sec home-news-image

What is the pathogenic mechanism of rectal prolapse?

The pathogenic mechanism of rectal prolapse primarily refers to the relaxation and sagging of the rectal mucosa down to the anal area, forming an internal rectal mucosa prolapse. Excessive relaxation of the rectal mucosa can protrude externally through the anus in a cylindrical or conical shape, commonly known as external rectal mucosa prolapse or rectal prolapse. The causes are mainly due to congenital deficiency of kidney energy in patients or excessive relaxation of the rectal mucosa due to multiple childbirths. Some patients with long-term constipation may also experience rectal mucosal relaxation due to excessive straining during bowel movements. Additionally, elderly and frail patients may experience sagging of the rectal mucosa as they age.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
48sec home-news-image

The difference between rectal prolapse and rectal prolapse

The term "rectal prolapse" used in folk vernacular covers a wide range, such as incarcerated hemorrhoids, inflammatory external hemorrhoids, thrombosed external hemorrhoids, rectal polyps, and rectal prolapse itself are all referred to as rectal prolapse. Of course, this also includes cases where, due to a lack of medical knowledge, any tumors or flesh-like growth protruding from inside to outside the anus are collectively termed as rectal prolapse. It is evident that the folk term “rectal prolapse” includes conditions like prolapsed rectum, prolapsed internal hemorrhoids, or prolapsed polyps, while the modern medical definition of rectal prolapse specifically refers to the protrusion of the rectum and its mucous membrane; the two should not be confused.