Causes
The fistula usually develops as a result of prolonged labor when a cesarean section cannot be accessed. Over the course of the three to five days of labor, the unborn child presses against the mother's birth canal very tightly, cutting off blood flow to the surrounding tissues between the vagina and the rectum and between the vagina and the bladder, causing the tissues to disintegrate and rot away.
Obstetric fistula can also be caused by poorly performed abortions, pelvic fractures, cancer or radiation therapy targeted at the pelvic area, inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis), or infected episiotomies after childbirth. Other potential causes for the development of obstetric fistula are sexual abuse and rape, especially in conflict/post-conflict areas, and other surgical trauma.
Read more about this topic: Obstetric Fistula