Rectal prolapse in pregnancy: a case report

Rectal prolapse occurs when a mucosal or full thickness layer of rectal tissue slides through the anal orifice. It is relatively infrequent and occurs commonly in elderly women. This report is to bring to focus the possibility of a rectal prolapse being misdiagnosed as haemorrhoids in pregnancy. A case of a 35-year-old woman, gravida 4, para 3+0, found to have a large rectal prolapse but misdiagnosed as prolapsed haemorrhoids at 34 weeks gestation is reported. Although rectal prolapse is not a common condition during childbearing years, it is instructive for obstetricians and midwives to be vigilant in all cases of pregnant women presenting with rectal protrusion or bleeding.