The exact prevalence of rectal prolapse is not known. It can develop in all age groups, and in children it tends to disappear gradually before the age of 5 years and can heal spontaneously. In the adult type, prolapse will gradually increase as long as the factors that produce rectal prolapse are present. Rectal prolapse is more common in women, with a male to female ratio of approximately 1U6. It is more common in menstruating women and can also be seen in non-pregnant women, with the peak age of the disease being after 50 years. There are racial differences in the occurrence of rectal prolapse, with it being more common in whites (5.4% to 11% prevalence), followed by Asians, and less common in blacks (0.6% to 2% prevalence), which may be related to differences in the structure of the pelvic floor, the quality of muscle and connective tissue, and the tendency for thick fibrous tissue to form after trauma, as well as to cultural and lifestyle habits of different races.