| Obstetric fistula | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Areas where obstetric fistulae commonly occur | |
| Specialty | Urology, gynecology |
| Symptoms | Incontinence of urine or feces[1] |
| Complications | Depression, infertility, social isolation[1] |
| Usual onset | Childbirth[1] |
| Risk factors | Obstructed labor, poor access to medical care, malnutrition, teenage pregnancy[1][2] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, supported methylene blue[3] |
| Prevention | Appropriate use of cesarean section[1] |
| Treatment | Surgery, urinary catheter, counseling[1][3] |
| Frequency | 2 million (developing world), rare (developed world)[1] |
Obstetric fistula is a medical condition in which a hole develops in the birth canal as a result of childbirth.[1][2] This can be between the vagina and rectum, ureter, or bladder.[1][4] It can result in incontinence of urine or feces.[1] Complications may include depression, infertility, and social isolation.[1]
Risk factors include obstructed labor, poor access to medical care, malnutrition, and teenage pregnancy.[1][2] The underlying mechanism is poor blood flow to the affected area for a prolonged period of time.[1] Diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and may be supported by use of methylene blue.[3]
Obstetric fistulae are almost entirely preventable with appropriate use of cesarean section.[1] Treatment is typically by surgery.[1] If treated early, the use of a urinary catheter may help with healing.[3] Counseling may also be useful.[1] An estimated 2 million women in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Arab region, and Latin America have the condition, with about 75,000 new cases developing a year.[1] It occurs very rarely in the developed world.[1] It is considered a disease of poverty.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Obstetric fistula". UNFPA - United Nations Population Fund. 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ^ a b c "10 facts on obstetric fistula". WHO. May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d Creanga, AA; Genadry, RR (November 2007). "Obstetric fistulas: a clinical review". International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 99 Suppl 1: S40–6. doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2007.06.021. PMID 17868675.
- ^ Setchell, Marcus E.; Hudson, C. N. (2013). Shaw's Textbook of Operative Gynaecology - E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 370. ISBN 978-8131234815. Archived from the original on 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ Disch, Lisa; Hawkesworth, Mary (2015). The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Theory. Oxford University Press. p. 821. ISBN 9780199328598. Archived from the original on 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2017-12-12.