What age group is most likely to be affected by rectocele?

A rectocele is most common in older women, as reported by the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Women who have had multiple or traumatic vaginal births or who have suffered with chronic constipation are also at more risk for a rectocele.

A rectocele refers to a bulge of the front wall of the lower colon or rectum into the vagina, according to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Though more common in older women, a rectocele is found in up to 40 percent of all women receiving routine physical examinations. Many incidents of rectoceles are mild and cause no obvious symptoms, but some cases of rectoceles require surgical intervention to correct.