Q52: Other congenital malformations of female genitalia

Q52.2: Congenital rectovaginal fistula

While developing in the womb, many different types of tissue develop in the body. The organs and body parts develop out of the various types of tissue.

The vagina is tubular and leads from the outside to the uterus. In the womb, the vagina develops together with the urinary tract and the rectum. The rectum is the last section of the large intestine. To start with, a common excretory duct for urine and stool forms in the vaginal area. By the time of the birth, the vagina and rectum are usually no longer joined to one another.

If tissue does not develop properly in the womb, defects can occur. Since birth there has been a fistula between the vagina and the rectum. Stool can get into the vagina through a fistula between the vagina and the rectum.