Rectal prolapse is when the rectum (the lower part of the colon where stool forms) drops outside of the body, protruding through the anus. Common in older adults with a history of constipation, rectal prolapse is more prevalent in women over the age of 50. Symptoms of rectal prolapse include bleeding from the rectum and an uncontrolled loss of stool (fecal incontinence).
Rectal prolapse is usually caused by a weakening of the muscles that support the rectum. Rectal prolapse may be partial, involving only the mucosa, or it may be complete, involving the entire wall of the rectum. In early stages, a prolapse may happen only after straining during a bowel movement. The protruding rectum may then slip back through the anal canal on its own. Over time, the prolapse may become more severe and could require surgery.
Board certified colon and rectal surgeons at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) offer the most advanced and effective approaches for patients with rectal prolapse, including minimally invasive surgery procedures and laparoscopic surgical options.
Your doctor will discuss your medical history and will complete a physical exam. You may be asked to squat and strain as if you are having a bowel movement. Learn more about diagnostic tests for rectal prolapse.
Surgical Treatment
If your rectal prolapse is severe enough and interferes with your quality of life, you may need surgery. Colon and rectal surgeons at BWH offer a range of minimally invasive surgical treatments, including:
Non-Surgical Treatment
Your surgeon may recommend non-surgical approaches to prevent rectal prolapse and relieve symptoms:
You will receive a thorough diagnostic examination to evaluate if you have rectal prolapse and if surgery is needed. Careful monitoring and the involvement of an experienced colon and rectal surgeon are important to the successful outcome for patients with colorectal conditions.
If you are having surgery or a procedure, you will likely be scheduled for a visit to the Weiner Center for Preoperative Evaluation for pre-operative information and tests.
The day of surgery, you will be taken care of in the operating room by surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses who specialize in rectal prolapse surgery. After surgery, you will go to the post-surgical care unit where you will receive comprehensive care by an experienced surgical and nursing staff.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital provides a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, collaborating with colleagues who have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating rectal prolapse. In addition, patients have full access to BWH’s world-renowned academic medical community with its diverse specialists and state-of-the-art facilities.
Go to our health library to learn more about rectal prolapse.
Visit the Kessler Health Education Library in the Bretholtz Center for Patients and Families to access computers and knowledgeable staff.
Visit the Weiner Center for Preoperative Evaluation.
Access a complete directory of patient and family services.
For over a century, a leader in patient care, medical education and research, with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery.
About BWH
