ABSTRACT
A rectocele is an out pocketing of the anterior rectal and the posterior vaginal wall into the lumen of the vagina ( 1 ). Some rectoceles may be asymptomatic, whereas others may cause such symptoms as incomplete bowel emptying, sensation of a vaginal mass, pain, and pressure. The prevalence of rectoceles ranges from 20% to 80% in the general population ( 2 ). A rectocele is fundamentally a defect of the rectovaginal septum, not of the rectum. The size of the defect does not necessarily correlate with the amount of functional derangement. This chapter reviews the anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of rectoceles.
