Persisting for a long period of time.

The section of bowel that removes water and electrolytes from digested food. Also known as the large intestine, it extends from the cecum to the anus.

Constipation is the passage of small amounts of hard, dry bowel movements, usually fewer than three times a week. People who are constipated may find it difficult and painful to have a bowel movement. Other symptoms of constipation include feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish.

A bowel movement.

The insertion of a fluid into the rectum to cause a bowel movement.

A small bowel prolapse, which occurs when the small bowel pushes through a defect in the rectovaginal or vesicovaginal pouch. Also know as an intestinal hernia.

Fiber, also known as dietary fiber, is a complex mixture of plant materials that is resistant to breakdown (digestion) by the human digestive system. Fiber promotes normal defecation by providing bulk for stool formation. Whole-grain foods, fruits, vegetables, dry beans and peas, and some cereals, such as oats, are good sources of fiber.

An abnormal connection between the bowel and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result of an injury or surgery, but can also result from infection or inflammation.

A physician who specializes in providing routine care for and treating diseases of the female reproductive system.

Occurs when one portion of the rectum slides into the next, much like the pieces of a telescope. When this occurs, it creates an obstruction, with the walls of the rectum pressing against one another.

A substance that can help relieve constipation by stimulating the action of the intestines in eliminating waste from the body.

A rectal prolapse (bulge) that occurs when the end of the rectum pushes through the back wall of the vagina.

The last four to six inches of the colon are the rectum and the anal canal. The rectum extends from the rectosigmoid junction to the anal canal; the anal canal ends with the anus.

The solid matter that is discharged during a bowel movement.