Why does anterior rectal protrusion also cause constipation?

  Anterior rectal protrusion (also known as rectal bulge), as the name implies, is a forward protrusion of the anterior rectal wall and is one of the causes of anorectal outlet obstruction type constipation. In men, the rectum does not easily protrude forward because the front of the rectum is solid; in women, because the front of the rectum is empty and there is only a rectovaginal septum between the rectum and the vagina, once the area is relaxed, it will cause displacement and cause the rectum to bulge forward due to pressure such as defecation. The incidence of this disease is reported to be high, about 75% to 81%, and it is one of the diseases specific to women and occurs basically in postpartum women.  The rectovaginal septum is located between the posterior wall of the vagina and the anterior wall of the rectum and is mainly composed of the intrapelvic fascia, which contains collagen, rich smooth muscle and elastic fibers. Local lacerations caused by childbirth, congenital dysplasia of the rectovaginal septum, degeneration of the fascia and prolonged increase in abdominal pressure can cause relaxation of the rectovaginal septum, and the pressure imbalance between the rectum and the vagina can force the septum to bulge forward, resulting in anterior rectal protrusion. In addition, estrogen depletion and atrophy of the vaginal mucosa and submucosal tissues are also common causes of prolapse. Due to the presence of prolapse, the normal descent of feces into the pouch of the prolapse is not easy to remove, and the more forceful the defecation, the more the rectum bulges forward, often leading to a vicious circle. The main performance of the patient is the perineum and vaginal swelling during defecation, anal obstruction, and even have to use hand pressure around the anus or vaginal septum to assist defecation, over time, the patient is physically and mentally exhausted, painful abnormal.  The disease is often diagnosed clinically by anorectal examination and fecal imaging.  In terms of treatment, there are often two types of treatment: conservative and surgical. The conservative approach is to prevent constipation by keeping the bowels open, such as drinking more water (1500-2000ml daily), eating more fruits and vegetables, ensuring the intake of high-fiber foods, exercising more (e.g. 3000m daily brisk walk), and developing the habit of regular bowel movements, and not over-straining the bowels to avoid increasing the burden on the pelvic floor. If conservative treatment including medication adjustment is still not effective, surgery should be considered, including transvaginal surgery and transanal surgery, depending on the specific condition, in short, the earlier the treatment, the better the results.