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Vaginal fistula

A vaginal fistula describes an opening that connects the vagina to another organ in the body: bladder, rectum, or bowel.

A vaginal fistula is an opening or hole that forms between the vaginal wall and another organ to which it is not normally connected.

Vaginal fistulas usually develop after tissue damage or trauma from childbirth, surgery, infections, cancer, radiation or a chronic condition.

WHO-50,000–100,000 individuals are affected by vaginal fistulas each year.

Estimated that more than 2 million women live with untreated vaginal fistulas in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Complications of vaginal fistulas: urinary and fecal leakage, tissue damage, infections, and abdominal discomfort.

Some individuals may also experience social exclusion and depression.

Treatment: In some cases, the condition may heal on its own.

Surgery is often successful.

In females, fistulas involving the genitals and surrounding organs are common: difficult childbirths, pelvic surgery, infections, inflammation, or cancer treatment in the pelvis or genital area.

A person may experience urinary or fecal incontinence.

Having continuous leakage into the vaginal area may result in soreness and infections.

Vaginal fistulas by themselves do not cause pain or discomfort, but However, result in unpleasant symptoms, which can include:

urinary incontinence or leakage

fecal leakage or incontinence

no urge to empty the bladder or bowels

vaginal discharge, usually with a foul odor

a sore, irritated, or infected vaginal area

abdominal pain

recurrent urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, and kidney infections

painful intercourse

nausea and vomiting

diarrhea

unexplained weight loss

rectal or vaginal bleeding

Vaginal fistulas develop after tissue damage due to:

trauma from a vaginal birth, such as vaginal tears

abdominal or pelvic surgeries, including hysterectomy and cesarean section

radiation therapy for gynecologic cancer

cancers in the pelvic area, including colon cancer, cervical cancer, and vaginal cancer

infections

chronic illnesses, such as Crohn’s disease and diverticulitis

a foreign body in the vagina

Diagnosis requires review of a person’s medical and surgical history that may identify possible causes.

A pelvic exam, including a speculum exam and potentially a rectal exam can establish a diagnosis.

Additional imaging tests to rule out other conditions and confirm the presence of a vaginal fistula may be necessary:

a cystoscopy exam to visualize the inside of the bladder.

a CT scan or voiding cystourethrogram Of the bladder.

an MRI, CT, or a fistulogram, to produce images of the pelvic area and fistula.

Treatment: depends on the type and location of their fistula.

Some small vaginal fistulas may heal on their own.

Larger vaginal fistulas require surgery.

Surgery may be a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure or open surgery.

For a vesicovaginal fistula, a doctor may perform the surgery via an incision in either the vagina or the abdomen.

The surgical process can vary from person to person, depending on the history, method of injury, and extent of the repair.

Surgical repair of vaginal fistula complications:

infections

injury

bleeding

thromboembolism

Death

Repair failure or recurrence

Other complications include:

sexual dysfunction

sexual dissatisfaction

new-onset or progression of incontinence

cesarean section requirement for subsequent pregnancies

pelvic and abdominal adhesions

pain during sex

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