---
title: "Vaginal Abnormalities: Cloacal Abnormalities"
url: https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/v/vaginal-abnormalities-cloacal-abnormalities/
description: "As a baby develops, three (3) openings normally form for the intestinal, genital and urinary tracts. In early stages of pregnancy, these three openings..."
---

# Vaginal Abnormalities: Cloacal Abnormalities

As a baby develops, three (3) openings normally form for the intestinal, genital and urinary tracts. In early stages of pregnancy, these three openings join together in a sac called "Cloaca." They then separate from each other to form the anus, vagina and urethra. In rare cases, this area may develop incorrectly. A "persistent cloaca" may form if these tracts fail to undergo complete separation from each other. This is when the intestinal, genital, and urinary tracts open into one common cavity, with one opening.

Archived from the 2024 edition

## Overview

This birth defect happens during pregnancy. It can affect 1 in every 50,000 babies. Not much is known about how to prevent it. Here we provide some basic information to help.

In some cases the 3 tracts come together at a low point. A newborn with this defect has no visible anus (the opening where feces leave the body). Everything else looks normal. There is often a wide common channel that drains freely. Urinary obstruction is not a problem.

## In this entry

The archived page carried these sections, in this order.

- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Ultrasound
- Retrograde Genitogram
- MRI
- Treatment
- Repair
- Reconstruction
- After Treatment
- Explore Further

## Other entries in Pediatric and Congenital Urology

- [Ambiguous (Uncertain) Genitalia](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/a_/ambiguous-(uncertain)-genitalia/)
- [Cloacal Abnormalities](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/c/cloacal-abnormalities/)
- [Cloacal Exstrophy](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/c/cloacal-exstrophy/)
- [Congenital Vaginal Obstruction](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/c/congenital-vaginal-obstruction/)
- [Cryptorchidism](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/c/cryptorchidism/)
- [Epispadias](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/e/epispadias/)
- [Hypospadias](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/h/hypospadias/)
- [Meatal Stenosis](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/urology-a-z/m/meatal-stenosis/)

### Source of this entry

- Original address**/urology-a-z/v/vaginal-abnormalities-cloacal-abnormalities/**
- Edition**2024 edition**
- Group**Pediatric and Congenital Urology**

### This is not medical advice

These pages are archived reference copies of material published on this domain. They are not medical advice, not a diagnosis and not a substitute for talking with a health professional.

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- [About OAB](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/its-time-to-talk-about-oab/about-oab/)
- [Overactive Bladder: Patient Guide](https://itstimetotalkaboutoab.org/overactive-bladder/)
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