10 Facts About Fistulas

6. Risk Factors

Certain conditions place a person at a higher risk of developing a fistula. Crohn's disease and diverticular disease are two conditions highly likely to cause fistulas. Around one in three people with Crohn's disease will get a fistula at some point. Certain cancer therapies, in particular, radiation therapy, can make fistulas more likely to form. An unusual cause of enterovaginal fistulas is obstructed labor when doctors delay intervention for too long. This is rare in the United States as women usually receive a high level of care during childbirth.

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