Overview

A vaginal fistula is an abnormal connection or opening that develops between your vaginal wall and a nearby organ. Most often, they develop between your vagina and an organ in your urinary system or in your digestive system. They most often occur due to damage to your vaginal tissue from things like childbirth, surgery, injury or infection.

What are genitourinary vaginal fistulas?

Genitourinary vaginal fistula is a term to describe a fistula that forms between your vagina or uterus and organs in your urinary system. The most common type is a vesicovaginal fistula, where an opening develops between your vagina and bladder (the organ that holds your pee).

Genitourinary vaginal fistulas also include:

  • Ureterovaginal fistulas between your vagina and ureters, the tubes that carry pee from your kidneys to your bladder.
  • Urethrovaginal fistulas between your vagina and urethra, the tube that carries pee from your bladder out of your body.

What are other types of vaginal fistulas?

Fistulas can also form between your vagina and digestive system organs. These include:

  • Rectovaginal fistulas between your vagina and rectum, the tube that sends poop (stool) through your anus (butthole) and out of your body.
  • Colovaginal fistulas between your vagina and large intestine (colon).
  • Enterovaginal fistulas between your vagina and small intestine.

How common are vaginal fistulas?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 50,000 to 100,000 people assigned female at birth (AFAB) worldwide develop vaginal fistulas every year.

The condition is more common among people who live in countries with limited medical resources. For example, in some parts of the world, people spend days in childbirth. Pressure from the fetus pushing against the vaginal wall during delivery can cut off the blood supply to vaginal tissues, leading to a fistula.

Products & Services
A Book: Future Care

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment


Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.
The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:
  • High blood pressure.
  • Diabetes.
  • Heart failure.
  • Some types of heart valve disease.
Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:
  • Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
  • Don't smoke or use tobacco.
  • Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
  • Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
  • Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Reduce and manage stress.


Print

Living with atrial fibrillation?

Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Heart Rhythm Conditions support group on Freedmans Health Clinic Connect, a patient community.

Heart Rhythm Conditions Discussions

See more discussions

Comments are closed for this post.