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Stool in the Vagina

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Last updated March 22, 2022

Vaginal stool quiz

Take a quiz to find out what's causing your vaginal stool.

Finding stool in the vagina means that there's an abnormal connection from the large intestines, the rectum, and the vagina. This condition is called rectovaginal fistula.

2 most common cause(s)

Vaginal stool quiz

Take a quiz to find out what's causing your vaginal stool.

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Stool in the vagina symptoms

Genital issues are never a comfortable topic of conversation, and stool in the vagina is an extremely uncomfortable symptom that you may feel too embarrassed to discuss with your healthcare provider.

However, it is important to know that stool in the vagina is never normal, and following-up with your healthcare provider is an important first step in finding a solution to this disconcerting and distressing symptom.

Common characteristics of stool in the vagina

The common characteristics of stool in the vagina are related to the presence of the stool in the vaginal canal. Pus passing out of the vagina may represent the presence of an infection.

  • Foul-smelling odor that does not resolve (even with proper hygiene)
  • Gas or pus passing out of the vagina
  • Fecal incontinence: This is an uncontrolled loss of stool.

Common accompanying symptoms

Stool in the vaginal canal is often not the only symptom. Common accompanying symptoms of this problem include:

  • Generalized pain
  • Dyspareunia: This is pain during sexual intercourse.
  • Dysuria: This is pain during urination.
  • Recurrent vaginal or urinary tract infections
  • Foul-smelling urine
  • Infection

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider promptly if you notice any of the symptoms above. This condition can cause both physical discomfort and emotional distress and requires follow-up with a medical professional.

Stool in the vagina causes

The underlying cause for stool in the vagina is an abnormal connection between the rectum (lower part of the large intestine) and the vagina. This abnormal connection is called a rectovaginal fistula. See an image of a rectovaginal fistula here.

The specific causes of rectovaginal fistula and why it forms can be separated into congenital causes (at birth) and acquired causes that are due to a secondary process occurring later in life.

Acquired

Acquired causes of stool in the vagina may include the following.

  • Trauma: Traumatic injuries that occur during childbirth can result in rectovaginal fistulas. During childbirth, the perineum can tear, resulting in an opening between the vagina and rectum/anus. Using this image here, you can imagine how this could occur if the perineal body/perineal membrane was torn. If this tear does not heal properly a rectovaginal fistula can form. Furthermore, deliveries that last for a long time can cause too much pressure on the perineum and result in a condition known as pressure necrosis of the rectovaginal septum.
  • Systemic disease: Systemic diseases that cause generalized inflammation in the body, especially the gastrointestinal tract, can put individuals at increased risk of developing rectovaginal fistulas.
  • Iatrogenic: Iatrogenic refers to medically-related causes of a condition. In the case of rectovaginal fistula, surgery to the components of the pelvis (vagina, perineum, rectum or anus) or lower pelvic region in general can lead to the development of the condition. For example, during labor sometimes an episiotomy (a surgical incision to enlarge the perineum during vaginal delivery) is performed. The episiotomy may become infected or not heal properly leading to a rectovaginal fistula. Moreover, treatment for cancers in the pelvic region that involve radiation can put patients at risk for development of fistulas as well.

Congenital

Congenital causes of rectovaginal fistula that are present at birth are rare and much less common than the acquired etiologies discussed above. This condition is known as a rectovaginal or rectovestibular fistula. The cause of this congenital condition is not completely known, but environmental factors such as drug use during pregnancy may play a role.

This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have.

Intestinal inflammation (diverticulitis)

Diverticula are small pouches that bulge outward through the colon, or large intestine. Diverticulitis is a condition where the pouches become inflamed or infected, a process which can cause fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, and constipation.

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: abdominal pain (stomach ache), nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation

Symptoms that never occur with intestinal inflammation (diverticulitis): pain below the ribs, pain in the upper right abdomen

Urgency: Hospital emergency room

New onset crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is an inflammation of the bowel. It is caused by a faulty immune system response which makes the body attack the lining of the intestines.

The disease usually appears before age thirty and can affect anyone. Those with a family history may be most susceptible. Smoking is a known risk factor.

Aggravating factors include stress, poor diet, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

Early symptoms usually develop gradually, but can appear suddenly. These include fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, mouth sores, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and blood in stool.

Untreated Crohn's disease can cause ulcers throughout the digestive tract as well as bowel obstruction, malnutrition, and deteriorating general health.

Diagnosis is made through blood test and stool sample test. Colonoscopy, CT scan, MRI, endoscopy, and/or enteroscopy may also be used.

Crohn's disease cannot be cured, but can be managed through reducing the inflammation. Antibiotics, corticosteroids, and immune system suppressors may be tried. Excellent nutrition, vitamin supplements, smoking cessation, and reduction in stress can be helpful.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: fatigue, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, constipation, abdominal cramps (stomach cramps)

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Digestive tract inflammation (diverticulitis)

When the passage of food through the colon becomes sluggish, the food can stagnate, increase in bulk, create pressure, and cause diverticula – or pouches – to form in the walls of the large intestine. If these pouches become inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis.

Risk factors are a low-fiber diet, smoking, obesity, chronic constipation, and lack of "good" bacteria in the gut.

Patients over 50, with a previous history of inflammatory disease of the colon, are most susceptible.

Symptoms include persistent abdominal pain; fever; nausea and vomiting; and constipation sometimes alternating with diarrhea.

Left untreated, diverticulitis can lead to intestinal blockage and scarring. Rupture of an inflamed pouch can result, leading to peritonitis. These are medical emergencies. If suspected, take the patient to the emergency room or call 9-1-1.

Diagnosis is made by ruling out other conditions through physical examination; blood, urine, and stool tests; and CT scan.

Less serious cases are treated with a high-fiber diet, fluids, probiotics, antibiotics, and lifestyle management. Others may require intravenous antibiotics and/or surgery.

Crohn's disease flare

Crohn's disease is an inflammation of the bowel. It is caused by a faulty immune system response which makes the body attack the lining of the intestines.

The disease usually appears before age thirty and can affect anyone. Those with a family history may be most susceptible. Smoking is a known risk factor.

Aggravating factors include stress, poor diet, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

Early symptoms usually develop gradually, but can appear suddenly. These include fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, mouth sores, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and blood in stool.

Untreated Crohn's disease can cause ulcers throughout the digestive tract as well as bowel obstruction, malnutrition, and deteriorating general health.

Diagnosis is made through blood test and stool sample test. Colonoscopy, CT scan, MRI, endoscopy, and/or enteroscopy may also be used.

Crohn's disease cannot be cured, but can be managed through reducing the inflammation. Antibiotics, corticosteroids, and immune system suppressors may be tried. Excellent nutrition, vitamin supplements, smoking cessation, and reduction in stress can be helpful.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: fatigue, nausea, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps (stomach cramps)

Urgency: In-person visit

Stool in the vagina treatments and relief

The primary treatment for rectovaginal fistula or congenital fistula is surgery. However, depending on the cause and extent of your symptoms there may be alternatives.

At-home treatments

Some women with small fistulas or minimal symptoms may be able to control and manage their condition utilizing strategies that optimize bowel function or medications that reduce inflammation.

  • Diet manipulation: Eating foods that minimize the number and quantity of bowel movements. For example, foods that are bland and do not aggravate the digestive system (like bananas, soda crackers, applesauce, and rice) can be helpful.
  • Controlling diarrhea: Talk to your healthcare provider about taking medications that prevent diarrhea in the setting of your condition.
  • Anti-inflammatory medications: These medications can help reduce inflammation and heal fistulas in individuals with systemic disease such as Crohn’s disease.

However, for most women, the symptoms are not manageable with strategies above and surgical repair is necessary.

When to see a doctor

Stool in the vagina and its associated symptoms should always be followed-up with a healthcare provider. The mainstay of treatment is to close and repair the fistula surgically. There are many surgical options that your healthcare provider may utilize:

  • Tissue graft: This puts skin/healthy tissue over the fistula opening in order to close it.
  • Sewing biologic tissue into the fistula: This allows tissue to grow into the repaired area and heal the fistula.
  • Diverting colostomy: This type of surgery redirects the flow of stool through an opening in your abdomen instead of through the rectum/vagina.

When it is an emergency

Stool in the vagina is usually a condition that presents chronically (happens over time) rather than acutely (happens suddenly). As a result, you may not need to present immediately to an emergency room. Nevertheless, you should always see your healthcare provider for this condition and its associated symptoms.

Prevention

Prevention of formation of rectovaginal fistula is targeted towards the acquired etiologies of the condition.

  • Kegel exercises: These are exercises designed to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor which support the uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum. They can be done at any time. Studies have shown that women who performed pelvic floor training at least three times a week had less perineal lacerations than women who performed the exercises less than once per week.
  • Targeted radiation: If you suffer from cancer in the pelvic region that requires radiation for treatment, your healthcare provider will make efforts to give the most targeted radiation that puts you at the least risk for developing a rectovaginal fistula.

FAQs about stool in the vagina

Why is there brown, foul-smelling discharge coming from my vagina?

If you are secreting brown, foul-smelling discharge from your vagina, you are most likely suffering from a rectovaginal fistula. A rectovaginal fistula is an abnormal connection between the rectum (lower part of the large intestine) and the vagina. Instead of stool going through the rectum to the anus, the stool passes through the fistula connection and is expelled from the vagina instead. This condition can cause both physical discomfort and emotional distress and requires follow-up with a medical professional.

Why does Crohn’s disease cause fistulas?

Studies and available data indicate that fistulas associated with Crohn’s disease occur due to an epithelial transformation of the skin caused by ongoing inflammation. The skin cells penetrate into deeper layers of the mucosa and skin causing tissue damage and formation of a tube-like structure that connects other organs together. These fistulas are extremely difficult to heal and treat because wound healing mechanisms do not function properly in patients with Crohn’s disease.

Will surgery fix my rectovaginal fistula?

Usually, surgery will completely close and repair the rectovaginal fistula and alleviate your symptoms. In some complicated cases, for example, Crohn’s disease associated fistula, the fistula may recur and surgery will need to be repeated.

What are Kegel exercises?

Kegel exercises are movements designed to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor which support the uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum.

Is a rectovaginal fistula an acute or chronic condition?

Stool in the vagina is usually a condition that presents chronically (happens over time) rather than acutely (happens suddenly). The triggering event, a perineal tear or prolonged delivery, may happen in the acute setting, but it will take time for the fistula to form.

Questions your doctor may ask about stool in the vagina

  • Have you experienced any nausea?
  • Have you lost your appetite recently?
  • Any fever today or during the last week?
  • When someone presses on your belly, does this person feel your muscles tense up?

Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions.

Hear what 5 others are saying
Once your story receives approval from our editors, it will exist on Buoy as a helpful resource for others who may experience something similar.
The stories shared below are not written by Buoy employees. Buoy does not endorse any of the information in these stories. Whenever you have questions or concerns about a medical condition, you should always contact your doctor or a healthcare provider.
Diarrhea or heavy discharge from vagina /cosmetic surgeryPosted December 4, 2021 by T.
I had a breast lift and touch-up lipo to my double chin and arms this morning. I urinated right before surgery and noticed nothing. When I came home after surgery my husband was helping me change clothes before lying down. We immediately noticed what looked and smelled to be stool or diarrhea. There was definitely not a sign from my anus. It was clumpy and very full in the vagina area only. There was no abdominal surgery performed. I don't know if this is a possible side effect of the surgery or anesthesia or a new problem developing?
Response to: Please help if you have any idea of what’s happening to mePosted March 1, 2021 by L.
You say you're 14 and have not had your period yet. And you are still a virgin. The only logical explanation for what you are going through hun is that you're about to start your period!!! Not too exciting huh! Yup, pretty much that’s what happened to me a week or 2 before it really came down. You 1st experience brownish color stuff coming out of your V. So don’t worry about it at all hun! Plus, I see your post was posted in April 2020 I believe! So you probably already know by now what it was. Stay beautiful inside & out.
To "A"Posted October 1, 2020 by R.
Apologies, this is not my story, it is message for the 14-year-old who posted their story. In my opinion, if you haven't already been to see a healthcare provider, you really should. You can talk to your pediatrician, primary care physician, immediate/urgent care provider—whomever you feel comfortable with. (I know it might feel like an uncomfortable or embarrassing topic; find someone you're usually comfortable with/the most comfortable now. Please don't worry about 'bothering' anyone—they are there to care for everyone, including you. There are systems of triage in place, which means that educated and experienced medical care providers decide which cases should be attended to in which order—that's not the job of the patient to worry about. What is for the patient to do is to call, teleconference, show up, providing the best explanation of their experience they can. Basically, the rest of the work is up to professionals. Regarding an aversion to seeing ob/gyn, I understand it can feel frightening, embarassing, uneasy. It's important to remember that our bodies are not to be ashamed of, and that sometimes what happens to them is often not our fault. Even if a person caused themself harm by drinking and smoking, for example, they still deserve quality medical care and should seek appropriate treatment. Self-harm is something to be concerned about and would become a far greater concern if it were to keep someone from seeking help. Harm by others is NEVER our fault and should absolutely never prevent us from doing anything we need or want. If that is the case, I would encourage the person to find a professional who is "trauma informed." Whatever the situation and circumstance may be, I hope you have received/will receive the best of care. May your medical issue be speedily and completely resolved. Peace.
Dr. Rothschild has been a faculty member at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He currently practices as a hospitalist at Newton Wellesley Hospital. In 1978, Dr. Rothschild received his MD at the Medical College of Wisconsin and trained in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in critical care medicine. He also received an MP...
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References

  1. Debeche-Adams TH, Bohl JL. Rectovaginal fistulas. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery. 2010;23(2):99-103. NCBI Link
  2. Congenital recto-vestibular fistula and recto-vaginal fistula. Cedars-Sinai. Cedars-Sinai Link
  3. Bo K, Fleten C, Nystad W. Effect of antenatal pelvic floor muscle training on labor and birth. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2009;113(6):1279-1284. PubMed Link
  4. Scharl M, Rogler G. Pathophysiology of fistula formation in Crohn's disease.. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology. 2014;5(3):205-212. NCBI Link