Treating and Preventing Obstetric Fistula

We Can End This Devastating Childbirth Injury

Obstetric fistula occurs mostly among women and girls living in extreme poverty, especially those far from medical services.

Obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged, obstructed labor. It leaves women incontinent and often leads to chronic medical problems, depression, social isolation and deepening poverty.

Through the Campaign to End Fistula, UNFPA works to prevent and treat fistula and to rehabilitate fistula survivors so they can rejoin their communities. The coalition of organizations active in the campaign is present in more than 50 countries and has directly supported 85,000 surgical repairs for women and girls.