Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Vaginal Splinting?EffectivenessSigns of a Bowel DisorderOther TreatmentsWhen to Contact Your Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Vaginal Splinting?
Effectiveness
Signs of a Bowel Disorder
Other Treatments
When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider
Vaginal splinting is a common way to ease constipation. By pressing your fingers against the vaginal wall, you can ease stool out of the rectum. Vaginal splinting may be used when you can’t poop or when you experienceincomplete evacuation(the sensation that the bowel has not been cleared even if it has).
While most people occasionally experience constipation without any concern about serious issues, the need to perform vaginal splinting may be a sign that you have a bowel condition.
This article explains what is involved with vaginal splinting and describes some of the medical conditions in which vaginal splinting may be used to help empty the bowel. It also discusses when you might need to talk to your healthcare provider about problems passing stool.
Annie Engel / Getty Images
Vaginal splinting is a form ofdigital evacuation(“digital” referring to fingers). It involves placing clean fingers into the vagina and pressing against the back wall to help ease stool out of the rectum. To do this, follow these steps:
While vaginal splinting is commonly performed with fingers, a tampon can also be used to apply pressure to the back wall of the vagina.
There are other ways to overcome constipation manually. This includes massaging the buttock and/orperineum(the diamond-shaped area between the anus and vagina) or performingdigital disimpaction(in which fingers are inserted into the anus to help remove stool).
Is Vaginal Splinting Effective?
Vaginal splinting can be effective at aiding the evacuation of stool from the rectum.
However, the frequent need to assist stool is a sign that there might be other issues that need to be addressed with a healthcare provider, such as pelvic organ prolapse, being unable to empty the bowels fully, and constipation.
Over time, straining can cause the weakening of the pelvic floor and associated problems likepelvic organ prolapse (POP). Vaginal splinting is one way to help move the stool out of the anal canal when it cannot be passed naturally.
Women often resort to splinting to compensate for changes in the anatomy and function of the pelvic organs.
There are various conditions for which vaginal splinting may be needed to remove stool, three of which involve the prolapse (bulging) of the pelvic organs. These include:
Surgery to Treat Vaginal Septum
Other Treatments for Constipation
If you’re dealing with constipation, several at-home treatments and lifestyle changes may help. They include:
Medical treatments for prolonged constipation can also include prescription medication andbiofeedback therapy.
When Is Constipation Considered an Emergency?
If you find you need to perform vaginal splinting often, it’s worth checking in with a healthcare provider to see whether you could benefit from treatment for constipation.
In one study on vaginal splinting, researchers found that most women who used vaginal splinting had some form of pelvic floor dysfunction.This can be addressed in several ways, including physical therapy, bowel retraining, and surgery in more severe cases.
Digital Disimpaction and How It’s Done
Summary
Vaginal splinting may be used to relieve occasional constipation but is more commonly used when a woman experiences pelvis organ prolapse or experiences dysfunction of the muscles and nerves to help regulate bowel movements.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Apostolis C, Wallace K, Sasson P, Hacker MR, Elkadry E, Rosenblatt PL.Assessment of women With defecatory dysfunction and manual splinting using dynamic pelvic floor magnetic resonance imaging.Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2012 Jan-Feb;18(1):18–24. doi:10.1097/SPV.0b013e31823bdb98University of Michigan Health Systems.Perianal Pressure/Splinting.Eustice S, Endacott R, Morris J, Shankar R, Kent B.Women’s experiences of managing digitation: do we ask enough in primary care?JRSM Open. 2018;9(8):205427041878361. doi:10.1177/2054270418783616Bellini Massimo, Tonarelli S, Barracca F, et al.Chronic constipation: is a nutritional approach reasonable?Nutrients.2021 Oct;13(10):3386. doi:10.3390/nu13103386Turan N, Atabek Aşt T.The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Constipation and Quality of Life.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2016;39(1):48-59. doi:10.1097/SGA.0000000000000202Parker CH, Henry S. Liu LWC.Efficacy of biofeedback therapy in clinical practice for the management of chronic constipation and fecal incontinence.J Can Assoc Gastroenterol.2019 Aug;2(3):126–31. doi:10.1093/jcag/gwy036
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Apostolis C, Wallace K, Sasson P, Hacker MR, Elkadry E, Rosenblatt PL.Assessment of women With defecatory dysfunction and manual splinting using dynamic pelvic floor magnetic resonance imaging.Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2012 Jan-Feb;18(1):18–24. doi:10.1097/SPV.0b013e31823bdb98University of Michigan Health Systems.Perianal Pressure/Splinting.Eustice S, Endacott R, Morris J, Shankar R, Kent B.Women’s experiences of managing digitation: do we ask enough in primary care?JRSM Open. 2018;9(8):205427041878361. doi:10.1177/2054270418783616Bellini Massimo, Tonarelli S, Barracca F, et al.Chronic constipation: is a nutritional approach reasonable?Nutrients.2021 Oct;13(10):3386. doi:10.3390/nu13103386Turan N, Atabek Aşt T.The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Constipation and Quality of Life.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2016;39(1):48-59. doi:10.1097/SGA.0000000000000202Parker CH, Henry S. Liu LWC.Efficacy of biofeedback therapy in clinical practice for the management of chronic constipation and fecal incontinence.J Can Assoc Gastroenterol.2019 Aug;2(3):126–31. doi:10.1093/jcag/gwy036
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Apostolis C, Wallace K, Sasson P, Hacker MR, Elkadry E, Rosenblatt PL.Assessment of women With defecatory dysfunction and manual splinting using dynamic pelvic floor magnetic resonance imaging.Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2012 Jan-Feb;18(1):18–24. doi:10.1097/SPV.0b013e31823bdb98University of Michigan Health Systems.Perianal Pressure/Splinting.Eustice S, Endacott R, Morris J, Shankar R, Kent B.Women’s experiences of managing digitation: do we ask enough in primary care?JRSM Open. 2018;9(8):205427041878361. doi:10.1177/2054270418783616Bellini Massimo, Tonarelli S, Barracca F, et al.Chronic constipation: is a nutritional approach reasonable?Nutrients.2021 Oct;13(10):3386. doi:10.3390/nu13103386Turan N, Atabek Aşt T.The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Constipation and Quality of Life.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2016;39(1):48-59. doi:10.1097/SGA.0000000000000202Parker CH, Henry S. Liu LWC.Efficacy of biofeedback therapy in clinical practice for the management of chronic constipation and fecal incontinence.J Can Assoc Gastroenterol.2019 Aug;2(3):126–31. doi:10.1093/jcag/gwy036
Apostolis C, Wallace K, Sasson P, Hacker MR, Elkadry E, Rosenblatt PL.Assessment of women With defecatory dysfunction and manual splinting using dynamic pelvic floor magnetic resonance imaging.Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2012 Jan-Feb;18(1):18–24. doi:10.1097/SPV.0b013e31823bdb98
University of Michigan Health Systems.Perianal Pressure/Splinting.
Eustice S, Endacott R, Morris J, Shankar R, Kent B.Women’s experiences of managing digitation: do we ask enough in primary care?JRSM Open. 2018;9(8):205427041878361. doi:10.1177/2054270418783616
Bellini Massimo, Tonarelli S, Barracca F, et al.Chronic constipation: is a nutritional approach reasonable?Nutrients.2021 Oct;13(10):3386. doi:10.3390/nu13103386
Turan N, Atabek Aşt T.The Effect of Abdominal Massage on Constipation and Quality of Life.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2016;39(1):48-59. doi:10.1097/SGA.0000000000000202
Parker CH, Henry S. Liu LWC.Efficacy of biofeedback therapy in clinical practice for the management of chronic constipation and fecal incontinence.J Can Assoc Gastroenterol.2019 Aug;2(3):126–31. doi:10.1093/jcag/gwy036
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
