Difficulty passing stools, infrequent bowel movements, or feeling that the bowel hasn’t fully emptied.

Constipation is often caused by poor diet, insufficient fluid intake, or pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, among other factors.

Symptoms include straining during bowel movements, infrequent stools (less than 3 times a week), hard or lumpy stools, and the feeling of incomplete evacuation.

A sudden, strong urge to open bowels that can be accompanied with the involuntary leakage of faeces.

Anal incontinence can occur in absence of an urge and can involve leakage of faeces, mucus or wind.

This is often caused by weakened or damaged pelvic floor muscles around the anus from pregnancy or childbirth, but can also occur with constipation, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, anal prolapse, pelvic surgery, pelvic radiation, or nerve damage.

A posterior vaginal wall prolapse can cause your rectum to pocket into the back wall of the vagina especially when your rectum is full with stool.

This can cause difficulty when trying to pass a bowel movement, known as obstructed defecation.

Also known as a rectal prolapse or rectocele

This is where part of the rectum slips out or protrudes through the anus

This can cause a bulge, feelings of heaviness or pressure in the rectum, feelings of incomplete emptying when passing a bowel movement, pain or discomfort, and/or leakage of stool/wind.

Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower rectum or anus, often causing pain, itching, bleeding, or discomfort, especially during bowel movements.

Anal fissures are are small tears or cuts in the skin around the anus, often causing pain and bleeding during or after bowel movements.

These are commonly associated with pregnancy and chronic constipation.