Cloacal malformation is a congenital (present at birth) problem that only affects girls. Very early in pregnancy, the rectum, urethra and vagina fail to separate into separate tubes. This means that urine and faeces drain into a common channel opening in the perineum (the area where the anus and vagina are normally located).
It occurs in 1 in 50,000 births and can be associated with other congenital malformations. Further information about cloacal malformation and its repair is available below:
- Cloacal malformation: information for families (PDF download)