Rectal Prolapse (Prolapsed Rectum) in Dhaka || মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা || Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Surgery
✍️ Written by: Md. Salauddin Biswas
MA in Medical Anthropology, University of Heidelberg, Germany | Former Senior Research Associate, James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University | Health Content Writer & SEO Specialist | Published: BMC Human Resources for Health | EEAT-Optimized Medical Content
🩺 Medically reviewed and approved by: Dr. Muhammad Nazrul Islam
FCPS (Surgery) · MS (Colorectal Surgery) · FACS (Fellow, American College of Surgeons) Assistant Professor (Colorectal Surgery), Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital, Dhaka.
📅 Last reviewed: March 2026
Rectal Prolapse Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Surgery
A prolapsed rectum — মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা — is one of the most alarming anorectal conditions a patient can experience: a visible red or pink mass of tissue protruding from the anus, sometimes after a bowel movement.
Despite how frightening it looks, rectal prolapse is a well-understood surgical condition that Dr. Muhammad Nazrul Islam treats successfully at his colorectal surgery clinic in Dhaka.
In Bangladesh, most patients with rectal prolapse initially assume they have পাইলস — because prolapse is the only other condition they are aware of that involves tissue near the anus.
This confusion leads to months or years of delay. This page explains what a prolapsed rectum actually is, how it differs from পাইলস, what causes it, and what treatment options are available in Dhaka.
✅ Quick Summary / সংক্ষেপে জেনে নিন
- মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা = Rectal prolapse — the rectum (last section of the large intestine) protrudes through the anus
- NOT the same as পাইলস — both involve tissue near the anus but are different conditions requiring different treatments
- Three degrees: partial (mucosal), internal (hidden, no protrusion), complete (full-thickness rectal wall protrudes)
- 6× more common in women — related to pelvic floor weakness and childbirth
- Does NOT improve on its own in adults — progressive condition requiring surgery for permanent correction
- Rectopexy (Wells operation) and perineal repair are the main surgical options — both performed by Dr. Nazrul in Dhaka
- Conservative treatment (diet, pelvic floor exercises) manages symptoms but does not repair the prolapse
মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা কী? / What is Rectal Prolapse (Prolapsed Rectum)?
মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা — ইংরেজিতে Rectal Prolapse বা Prolapsed Rectum — হলো এমন একটি অবস্থা যেখানে মলদ্বারের শেষ অংশ (rectum) তার স্বাভাবিক অবস্থান থেকে সরে গিয়ে পায়ুপথ দিয়ে বাইরে বেরিয়ে আসে। প্রথমে শুধু পায়খানা করার সময় বের হয় এবং নিজে থেকে ঢুকে যায়। ধীরে ধীরে হাঁটা-চলা বা দাঁড়ানোর সময়ও বের হতে থাকে এবং হাত দিয়ে ঠেলে ঢোকাতে হয়।
Rectal prolapse occurs when the ligaments and muscles that hold the rectum in place weaken — allowing the rectum to slide out of position and through the anus.
It ranges in severity from a small mucosal protrusion that only occurs during straining, to a complete prolapse where the entire thickness of the rectal wall protrudes several centimetres outside the body at all times. Rectal prolapse is most common in older adults and in women who have had multiple childbirths (ASCRS).
রেকটাল প্রোল্যাপসের ৩টি স্তর / Three Degrees of Rectal Prolapse
Understanding the degree of prolapse is important because it determines treatment. Dr. Nazrul assesses the degree of prolapse at the first consultation:
| Degree / স্তর | Description / বিবরণ | What It Looks Like / রোগী কী দেখেন |
|---|---|---|
| Partial Prolapse (Mucosal Prolapse) |
Only the inner lining (mucosa) of the rectum slides out — not the full wall. Often confused with prolapsed piles (Grade 3/4 haemorrhoids). শুধু মলদ্বারের ভেতরের আবরণ বের হয়। | Small, soft, pink/red protrusion — usually during straining only. Reduces spontaneously. Looks similar to a large prolapsed pile. |
| Internal / Occult Prolapse (Intussusception) |
The rectum folds inward on itself but does not protrude through the anus. The patient feels symptoms (incomplete emptying, straining, mucus discharge) but sees nothing external. ভেতরে ভাঁজ খায়, বাইরে দেখা যায় না। | No visible protrusion — patient has symptoms without seeing anything. Diagnosed by proctoscopy or defaecating proctogram. |
| Complete (Full-Thickness) Prolapse | The entire thickness of the rectal wall protrudes through the anus. The prolapse may be 2–12cm long. মলদ্বারের পুরো দেওয়াল বের হয়ে আসে। | A visible red/pink, fleshy, cylindrical mass outside the anus — concentric rings of mucosa visible. May reduce spontaneously initially, then becomes permanent. |
পাইলস না মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা? / Piles vs Rectal Prolapse — The Most Common Confusion in Bangladesh
‘মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা কি পাইলস?’ — ‘Is prolapse the same as piles?’ is the single most common question Dr. Nazrul receives from patients with rectal prolapse in Bangladesh. The answer is NO — they are fundamentally different conditions, and treating one as the other will fail. Here is a clear comparison:
| Feature | পাইলস / Piles (Haemorrhoids) | মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা / Rectal Prolapse |
|---|---|---|
| What protrudes | Swollen blood vessels (haemorrhoidal cushions) — vascular tissue only | Full thickness of rectal wall — all layers of the bowel |
| Appearance | Radial ridges — like flower petals. Purple/dark red. Grape-like clusters. | Concentric rings — like a donut or rosette. Pink/red. Smooth, cylindrical. |
| Size | Usually 1–3cm | Can be 2–12cm — much larger than piles |
| Bleeding | Common — often fresh red blood | Less common — mucus discharge more typical |
| Pain | Often painless (internal) or burning (external) | Discomfort, pressure, ache — rarely severe pain unless strangulated |
| Cause | Straining, constipation, increased venous pressure | Weak pelvic floor, childbirth, chronic straining, ageing |
| More common in | Both sexes, any age from 20s | Women (6× more), elderly, children under 3 |
| Treatment | Conservative to surgical banding / haemorrhoidectomy | Surgery (rectopexy or perineal repair) for permanent repair |
| Can they coexist? | YES — prolapse and haemorrhoids can occur together. Examination by Dr. Nazrul determines which is present. | |
মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসার কারণ / Causes of Rectal Prolapse
Rectal prolapse develops when the normal support structures of the rectum — ligaments, pelvic floor muscles and fascial attachments — weaken or become damaged over time. The most important causes in Bangladesh are:
সন্তান প্রসব / Childbirth — The Dominant Cause in Bangladeshi Women
Childbirth is by far the most common cause of rectal prolapse in women — explaining why it is 6 times more common in women than men.
Vaginal delivery, particularly multiple deliveries, prolonged second-stage labour and large babies, stretches and damages the pudendal nerves and levator ani muscles of the pelvic floor.
In Bangladesh, where multiple childbirths are common, access to pelvic floor physiotherapy after delivery is limited, and many women are unaware that pelvic floor weakness is a medical condition — rectal prolapse is significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated.
কোষ্ঠকাঠিন্য ও দীর্ঘক্ষণ কোঁথ দেওয়া / Chronic Constipation and Straining
Chronic straining at stool — from constipation (কোষ্ঠকাঠিন্য) — is the second most important cause of rectal prolapse. Repeated high intra-abdominal pressure during straining gradually stretches the rectal ligaments and weakens the pelvic floor.
In Bangladesh, chronic constipation is extremely common (low-fibre diet, inadequate fluid intake, sedentary lifestyle) and is a major contributing factor to rectal prolapse in both men and women.
বয়স ও পেশীর দুর্বলতা / Age and Muscle Weakness
The pelvic floor muscles and rectal ligaments naturally weaken with age. Rectal prolapse is significantly more common after the age of 50 in both sexes — particularly in women who also carry the cumulative effects of childbirth.
শিশুদের রেকটাল প্রোল্যাপস / Rectal Prolapse in Children
Rectal prolapse is also seen in young children — typically between ages 1 and 3 — most commonly associated with malnutrition, chronic diarrhoea, parasitic infections (কৃমি), and chronic constipation. In children, conservative management (treating the underlying cause, high-fibre diet, avoiding straining) is usually successful without surgery.
Other Contributing Factors
- Neurological conditions — spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, sacral nerve damage impairing pelvic floor muscle control
- Previous pelvic surgery — hysterectomy, prostatectomy or prior rectal surgery
- Chronic cough — prolonged raised intra-abdominal pressure from COPD or asthma
- Connective tissue disorders — Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
রেকটাল প্রোল্যাপসের লক্ষণ / Rectal Prolapse Symptoms — What Does It Feel Like?
The symptoms of rectal prolapse develop gradually and worsen over time. Many patients tolerate symptoms for years before seeking help — partly from embarrassment and partly from assuming they have পাইলস:
| Symptom / লক্ষণ | Details / বিস্তারিত |
|---|---|
| মলদ্বার দিয়ে কিছু বের হওয়া Visible protrusion |
The most obvious and alarming symptom — a red or pink fleshy mass protruding from the anus. Initially only during straining; later with any physical activity; eventually permanent. |
| মলদ্বারে শ্লেষ্মা Mucus discharge |
The prolapsed rectal mucosa secretes mucus — causing a persistent wet or moist sensation near the anus and soiling of underwear. See also: anal itching from mucus → |
| মলদ্বারে রক্তপাত Rectal bleeding |
The prolapsed tissue is fragile and bleeds easily — producing small amounts of fresh blood. See Rectal Bleeding guide → |
| মলদ্বারে অস্বস্তি ও চাপ Rectal pressure and discomfort |
A feeling of fullness, pressure or ‘something sitting’ in the rectum — even after a bowel movement. |
| মল নিয়ন্ত্রণ না করতে পারা Faecal incontinence |
Loss of bowel control — soiling of underwear — from sphincter stretching by the prolapsing rectum. A very distressing symptom causing significant social isolation. |
| মলত্যাগ অসম্পূর্ণ মনে হওয়া Incomplete evacuation |
A persistent feeling that the bowel has not fully emptied after a bowel movement — related to the rectum failing to empty properly due to the structural abnormality. |
| কোষ্ঠকাঠিন্য Constipation |
The anatomical distortion of prolapse makes bowel movements difficult — often creating a vicious cycle: constipation causes straining which worsens prolapse. |
মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসার চিকিৎসা / Rectal Prolapse Treatment in Dhaka — Surgery and Conservative Options
Treatment of rectal prolapse depends on the degree of prolapse, the patient’s age, general health and the severity of symptoms. Dr. Nazrul Islam provides both conservative management and surgical repair at his Dhaka clinic:
Conservative Treatment / অস্ত্রোপচার ছাড়া চিকিৎসা — Who Is It For?
Conservative treatment does NOT repair the prolapse — it manages symptoms and may slow progression. It is appropriate for: very mild partial prolapse, children (where the underlying cause is treated), and elderly or frail patients unfit for surgery.
- High-fibre diet and adequate fluids — to treat constipation and reduce straining
- Stool softeners — to prevent straining at stool
- Pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) — strengthen the levator ani muscles; more effective as prevention than treatment of established prolapse
- Manual reduction — gently pushing the prolapsed tissue back inside with a lubricated gloved hand. Sugar applied to swollen prolapsed tissue reduces oedema and makes reduction easier. This is a temporary measure only.
- Avoiding straining and squatting — reducing intra-abdominal pressure during defaecation
Surgical Treatment / অস্ত্রোপচার — Permanent Repair
Surgery is the definitive treatment for rectal prolapse in adults. Two main approaches are used — the choice depends on patient fitness, age and degree of prolapse. The ASCRS patient guide provides an international overview of surgical options:
| Operation | Approach | Best For / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal Rectopexy (Wells Operation / Suture Rectopexy) |
Abdominal surgery — the rectum is mobilised, straightened and fixed (sutured or with a mesh) to the sacrum (tailbone). Laparoscopic (keyhole) approach is standard. | Lowest recurrence rate (5–10%). Best long-term results. Younger, fitter patients. Preserves bowel function. Dr. Nazrul performs laparoscopic rectopexy in Dhaka. |
| Resection Rectopexy | Abdominal surgery — rectopexy combined with removal of the redundant sigmoid colon. | Patients with combined prolapse and severe constipation. Removes the redundant sigmoid that contributes to constipation. |
| Perineal Repair: Delorme’s Operation |
Perineal (through the anus) — the redundant rectal mucosa is removed and the muscle wall plicated (folded and sutured). | Elderly or frail patients unable to tolerate abdominal surgery. Shorter operation, faster recovery. Higher recurrence rate (20–30%). |
| Perineal Repair: Altemeier’s Operation |
Perineal — the prolapsed bowel is removed through the perineum and the bowel ends joined. | Complete prolapse in elderly or frail patients. Can be done under regional anaesthesia. |
হোমিওপ্যাথি দিয়ে কি মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা ভালো হয়? / Can Homeopathy Treat Rectal Prolapse?
Many patients in Bangladesh ask Dr. Nazrul whether rectal prolapse can be treated with homeopathic medicine before considering surgery. This is an important question that deserves a respectful and honest answer.
Rectal prolapse is a structural and mechanical problem — the ligaments and muscles that hold the rectum in place have weakened or stretched beyond their ability to support the rectum. No medicine — homeopathic, Ayurvedic, herbal or allopathic — can repair stretched ligaments or rebuild weakened pelvic floor muscles once significant prolapse has occurred. This is not a limitation of any particular medical system; it is a matter of anatomy.
Homeopathic remedies and other alternative medicines may relieve some associated symptoms — mild discomfort, mucus discharge, or constipation — but they cannot reduce the prolapse or prevent it from worsening. A partial or complete rectal prolapse that is left without surgical repair will almost always progress over time, leading to worsening faecal incontinence, increasing difficulty reducing the prolapse and, eventually, strangulation.
মহিলাদের রেকটাল প্রোল্যাপস / Rectal Prolapse in Women — A Bangladesh-Specific Perspective
Rectal prolapse is six times more common in women than in men — and the reasons are directly related to female pelvic anatomy and the effects of childbirth. In Bangladesh, several factors make this a particularly significant issue:
- Multiple childbirths — the average Bangladeshi woman has more childbirths than women in Western countries; each vaginal delivery carries a risk of pudendal nerve stretch injury and levator ani muscle damage
- Unassisted or poorly supervised deliveries — particularly in rural Bangladesh; prolonged second-stage labour and large babies cause maximum pelvic floor damage
- No postnatal pelvic floor physiotherapy — virtually absent in Bangladesh’s healthcare system; in the UK and Australia, pelvic floor exercises are routinely taught after every delivery
- Cultural reluctance to discuss anorectal symptoms — women in Bangladesh are significantly more reluctant than men to discuss bowel symptoms with doctors; many tolerate prolapse, incontinence and mucus discharge for years
- Multiparity without adequate nutrition — chronic malnutrition in some communities compounds muscle weakness
Frequently Asked Questions / সচরাচর জিজ্ঞাসা
Written as spoken questions — for Google Assistant, Siri and voice search in both English and Bengali.
Does rectal prolapse hurt? / মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসলে কি ব্যথা হয়?
Quick answer: Rectal prolapse is usually not severely painful — a dull ache, pressure and discomfort are more typical. Severe pain means emergency: a strangulated prolapse needs immediate hospital treatment.
Most patients experience discomfort, heaviness and a feeling of pressure around the anus rather than sharp pain. Mild bleeding and mucus discharge are common.
Pain becomes significant if the prolapsed tissue becomes trapped and its blood supply is cut off — this is called strangulation, and it is a surgical emergency. If a prolapsed rectum is dark purple or black in colour, hard, swollen and very painful — go to hospital immediately.
What is a prolapsed rectum? / মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা মানে কী?
Quick answer: A prolapsed rectum is when the rectum — the last part of the large intestine — slides out of position and protrudes through the anus. It looks like a red or pink fleshy mass outside the anus.
মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা (rectal prolapse or prolapsed rectum) হলো মলদ্বারের শেষ অংশ যখন তার স্বাভাবিক অবস্থান থেকে সরে গিয়ে পায়ুপথ দিয়ে বাইরে চলে আসে। প্রথমে শুধু পায়খানা করার সময় বের হয় এবং নিজে থেকে ঢুকে যায়। পরবর্তীতে হাঁটা-চলাতেও বের হয় এবং হাত দিয়ে ঢোকাতে হয়। এটি পাইলসের মতো দেখতে হলেও আলাদা একটি অবস্থা।
Can rectal prolapse go away on its own? / মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা কি নিজে থেকে ঠিক হয়?
Quick answer: In adults, rectal prolapse does not go away on its own. It is a progressive structural condition — it almost always gets worse over time without surgical treatment.
In children under 3 years old, rectal prolapse often resolves with conservative treatment of the underlying cause (treating constipation, কৃমি infections, malnutrition).
In adults, however, the structural weakness of the pelvic floor does not repair itself. Without surgery, prolapse progresses — the tissue protrudes more frequently, becomes harder to push back, and faecal incontinence worsens. Conservative management controls symptoms but does not reverse the prolapse.
Can rectal prolapse be treated without surgery? / অস্ত্রোপচার ছাড়া কি মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসার চিকিৎসা সম্ভব?
Quick answer: Conservative treatment (high-fibre diet, stool softeners, pelvic floor exercises) controls symptoms but does not repair the prolapse. Surgery is the only permanent treatment for significant rectal prolapse in adults.
Conservative management is appropriate for very mild partial prolapse, children, or elderly patients unfit for surgery. However, in adults with moderate to complete prolapse, symptoms — particularly faecal incontinence and difficulty reducing the prolapse — will worsen without surgical repair.
Dr. Nazrul will give you an honest assessment of whether conservative management is sufficient for your degree of prolapse, or whether surgery is recommended.
Is rectal prolapse the same as piles? / মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসা কি পাইলসের মতোই?
Quick answer: No — rectal prolapse and piles are different conditions. Both involve tissue near the anus, but piles are swollen blood vessels while rectal prolapse is the full thickness of the bowel wall protruding through the anus. They need different treatments.
পাইলস (haemorrhoids) হলো মলদ্বারের আশেপাশের রক্তনালীর ফোলা — ছোট, রক্তবহুল, বেগুনি রঙের। রেকটাল প্রোল্যাপস হলো মলদ্বারের দেওয়ালের পুরো অংশ বাইরে বের হয়ে আসা — বড়, গোলাপি বা লাল রঙের, কেন্দ্রীয় বলয়াকার ভাঁজ সহ। দুটো একসাথেও থাকতে পারে। পার্থক্য জানতে অবশ্যই পরীক্ষা করাতে হবে।
How is rectal prolapse treated in Dhaka? / ঢাকায় রেকটাল প্রোল্যাপসের চিকিৎসা কীভাবে হয়?
Quick answer: Dr. Muhammad Nazrul Islam performs laparoscopic rectopexy (Wells operation) and perineal repair for rectal prolapse at his colorectal surgery clinic in Dhaka. The type of surgery depends on your degree of prolapse and general health.
ঢাকায় ডা. মুহাম্মদ নজরুল ইসলামের ক্লিনিকে রেকটাল প্রোল্যাপসের অস্ত্রোপচার করা হয়। ল্যাপারোস্কোপিক রেক্টোপেক্সি (ওয়েলস অপারেশন) — ছোট ছোট ছিদ্রের মাধ্যমে মলদ্বার তার সঠিক স্থানে সংযুক্ত করা হয়। পেরিনিয়াল রিপেয়ার (ডেলর্ম বা অ্যালটেমেয়ার) — বয়স্ক বা অসুস্থ রোগীদের জন্য। প্রথমে একটি পরামর্শ সেশনে ডা. নজরুল পরীক্ষা করে সঠিক পদ্ধতি নির্ধারণ করবেন। কল করুন: +88019 7684 2234.
What causes rectal prolapse? / রেকটাল প্রোল্যাপস কেন হয়?
Quick answer: The main causes are: childbirth (in women), chronic constipation and straining, ageing and pelvic floor muscle weakness. In children, কৃমি (worm) infections, malnutrition and chronic diarrhoea are common causes.
Rectal prolapse develops when the support structures of the rectum — pelvic floor muscles, ligaments and fascial attachments — weaken over time.
In Bangladesh the most common causes are: multiple vaginal childbirths (dominant cause in women), chronic constipation and straining (very common due to low-fibre diet), and age-related pelvic floor weakness. In children, কৃমি infection and malnutrition are important contributing factors.
মলদ্বার বের হয়ে আসছে? / Do You Have a Prolapsed Rectum?
Rectal prolapse does not improve on its own in adults. Conservative management controls symptoms temporarily — but the prolapse itself requires surgical repair for a permanent solution. The longer surgery is delayed, the weaker the pelvic floor becomes and the more complex the repair.
Most patients are surprised by how straightforward the consultation is — a 10-minute examination gives a definitive diagnosis and a clear treatment plan.
📞 Call or WhatsApp: +88019 7684 2234
About the Author
Md. Salauddin Biswas
MA in Medical Anthropology (Health and Society in South Asia), University of Heidelberg, Germany
8+ years of public health research at BRAC University and the University of Dhaka. Published in BMC Human Resources for Health (2015) and the American Journal of Advances in Anthropology (2013). Specialisation in healthcare systems and patient behaviour in South Asia.
Medically Reviewed by
Dr. Muhammad Nazrul Islam
FCPS (Surgery) · MS (Colorectal Surgery) · FACS
Colorectal & General Surgeon, Dhaka | Asst. Professor, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College & Hospital
20+ years experience · 50,000+ procedures · 300,000+ patients
Read More:
Rectal prolapse – Symptoms and causes
Medical Disclaimer: This page is for general patient education only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For personal assessment of rectal prolapse in Dhaka, please consult Dr. Muhammad Nazrul Islam or a qualified medical professional directly.
