What is a rectocele?
A woman with a rectocele has weakness in the tissue that separates the wall of the vagina from the wall of the rectum. The tissue may be weakened during childbirth or by a surgical procedure. The rectum pushes against the vaginal wall, which results in bulging of the vaginal wall into the vagina.

What are the symptoms of a rectocele?
The most common symptom of a rectocele is a bulge in the wall of the vagina, which may protrude through the vaginal opening. Additional symptoms of a rectocele may include difficulty passing stool through the rectum, difficulty controlling the bowels, and a sensation of pressure in the rectum or vagina.

How does the doctor treat a rectocele?
Treatment for a rectocele includes surgery or a pessary, which is a plastic ring that is inserted into the vagina. The pessary supports the vaginal wall, so that it does not fall through the vaginal opening.