What is an enterocele?

An enterocele is the protrusion of the small bowel pushing into the upper wall of the vagina. It can also be defined as a hernia of the peritoneal sac, which contain the small bowel or sigmoid colon protrusion.  Muscles and ligaments that support your small intestine can become weak and cause it to descend into the vagina. There enterocele will bulge into the vagina.

Childbirth can cause the pelvic floor muscles to become stretched or weakened, especially women who have multiple or difficult childbirths, which can lead to an enterocele. 

Constipation, heavy lifting, chronic cough can also be causes of an enterocele.

 

A decrease in oestrogen levels can cause the pelvic floor muscles to weaken and as a result may result the organs to descend (prolapse)

 

What are the symptoms of an Enterocele?

• A dragging sensation in your pelvis
• Bloating of the lower abdomen or pressure, pain.
• Low back pain ache.
• A soft bulge of tissue in your vagina at the perineum area or a little higher

• General vaginal discomfort

• Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)