Many women who live with vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) have never heard its name. Many believe nothing can be done. Both of these things can change. Here are answers to the questions we hear most often.
What is VVF?
Vesico-vaginal fistula is a hole or tear that forms between the bladder and the vagina. It causes constant leaking of urine that a woman cannot control.
What causes it?
Most VVF in Nigeria follows childbirth. The most common causes are:
- Prolonged, obstructed labour, where a baby cannot pass through the birth canal and labour goes on for a long time without skilled help.
- No access to skilled care at birth, such as a midwife, a doctor or a hospital that can perform a caesarean section.
- Early marriage and pregnancy before a girl's body is ready, and female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C).
How common is it?
At least 3 million women worldwide, most of them in Africa and southern Asia, live with an untreated fistula, according to the World Health Organization. Nigeria has the highest burden in the world, with an estimated 400,000 to 800,000 women affected.
A 2020 report by the Federal Ministry of Health and UNFPA estimated that about 12,000 new cases occur in Nigeria every year, and that 90% of them go untreated. VVF is most common in rural and underserved areas, where quality maternal care is hard to reach.
Can it be treated?
Yes. Most fistulas can be closed with surgery by a trained surgeon. After treatment, many women go on to live full lives, return to work and rejoin their communities.
Fistula is not a curse, and it is not your fault. It is a medical condition, and it can be repaired.
How FCI helps
We raise awareness so women and families know the signs and where to go. We fund repair surgery for women who cannot afford it. And we support women through recovery. Read more about what we do.
If you or someone you know is living with VVF, contact us in confidence.
