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justify-content-end"> <a href="https://fistulafoundation.org/donate/" target="" aria-label="Donate" class="btn mobile-donate-btn js-donate-btn">Donate</a><div class="nav__search-results"><div class="global-search-results js-global-search"><div id="search"></div></div><div class="text-right nav__search"> <button class="nav__search-trigger-init js-search-trigger" aria-label="Open Search"> <i class="icon-search search-collapsed"></i> </button></div></div> <span href="javascript:void(0)" class="hamburger js-menu-trigger" data-menu="#main-menu" aria-label="Menu"> <span class="center"></span> </span><div class="ml-3 ml-lg-0 d-none d-md-block"> <a href="https://fistulafoundation.org/donate/" target="" aria-label="Donate" class="btn js-donate-btn">Donate</a></div></div></div></div></header><div class="wrap" role="document"><header id="masthead" class="section hero no-mobile-image mobile-image-focus--center hero--dark hero--image hero-style--boxed mobile-bg-color-neutral-100 header-gradient header-gradient--dark header-gradient--medium" data-colour_init="light"> <picture><source data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-2160x864.webp 2160w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-300x120.webp 300w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-1024x410.webp 1024w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-
9768x308.webp 768w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-1536x615.webp 1536w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-2048x820.webp 2048w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-195x78.webp 195w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-585x234.webp 585w" sizes="(max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px" type="image/webp"><img src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-2160x864.jpg" id="hero-image" height="864" width="2160" srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-2160x864.jpg 2160w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-300x120.jpg 300w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-1024x410.jpg 1024w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-768x308.jpg 768w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-1536x615.jpg 1536w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-2048x820.jpg 2048w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-195x78.jpg 195w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FF_Webpage_WIF_0304262160x865-1-585x234.jpg 585w" sizes="(max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px" class="hero__image sp-no-webp" alt="" aria-hidden="true" loading="eager" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" > </picture><div class="hero__content"><div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-12 is-boxed border-rounded col-md-7 text-left"><h1 animate-up>What Is Obstetric Fistula?</h1><div animate-up="1"><p>Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury. It leaves a woman incontinent, humiliated, andâall too oftenâshunned by her community. Surgery is the only cure.</p></div></div></div></div></div></header><main class="main" id="main"><section class="section section-margin section--statement" id="statement-0"><div class="container"><div class="row text-center"><div class="col-12 col-md-8 mr-auto ml-auto"><div class="statement__content"><div class="h2 font-weight-normal mb-0"><p>Today, at least one million women in Africa and Asia needlessly suffer from untreated fistula.</p></div></div></div></div></div></section><section class="section section-margin " id="cta-sidebar-content-1"><div class="container mb-5"><div class="row justify-content-center"><div class="col-12 col-md-10"><h2 class="h1" animate-up>How Fistula Occurs</h2><div class="intro h2" animate-up> An obstetric fistula occurs when a mother has a prolonged, obstructed labor, but doesnât have access to emergency medical care, such as a C-section. She often labors in excruciating pain for days. Tragically, her baby usually dies.</div></div></div></div><div class="container"><div class="row align-items-start justify-content-center"><div class="col-12 col-sm-7 col-md-6 order-1 order-sm-1" animate-right><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During her prolonged labor, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">the motherâs contractions continually push the babyâs head against her pelvis. Soft tissues caught between the babyâs head and her pelvic bone become compressed, restricting the normal flow of blood.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Without adequate blood supply, sections of tissue soon die, leaving holesâknown as âfistulaeâ âbetween the motherâs vagina and her bladder or rectum. It is these holes that cause incontinence. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">If untreated, the woman will uncontrollably </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">leak urine, stool, or sometimes both,</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for the rest of her life.</span></p><h4><strong>Severe perineal tears: A growing need in the field</strong></h4><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Severe perineal tears are another debilitating injury that can occur when a woman in labor does not have access to adequate care. The effects of this injury<b>â</b>a tearing to the anal sphincter muscle<b>â</b>leaves a woman incontinent of feces. In recent years, as our partnersâ outreach workers have found women with fistula, theyâve increasingly encountered women with this similarly debilitating childbirth
9injury. Perineal tears now account for approximately <a href="https://fistulafoundation.org/news/faq_topic/tears/">20% of the women we treat.</a></span></p><p>Learn more about <span class="link link--arrow link--accent"><a href="https://fistulafoundation.org/what-we-do/how-we-work/">our approach to treatment</a></span></p></div><aside class="col-12 col-sm-5 col-md-4 col-lg-3 order-2 order-sm-2 offset-lg-1" animate-left><div class="aside__container "><div class="aside__inner aside__inner--image"><figure class="aside__figure d-block aside__figure--zoom js-image-zoom"> <a href="javascript:void(0)" class="js-zoom zoom-image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#-image-zoom-1"> <i class="icon-zoom"></i> </a> <picture><source data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula.png.webp 2410w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-300x255.webp 300w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1024x870.webp 1024w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-768x653.webp 768w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1536x1305.webp 1536w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-2048x1740.webp 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px" type="image/webp"><noscript><img src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula.png" height="450" width="530" srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula.png 2410w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-300x255.png 300w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1024x870.png 1024w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-768x653.png 768w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1536x1305.png 1536w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-2048x1740.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px" class="attachment-content_image_contained size-content_image_contained sp-no-webp" alt="Medical illustration showing how obstetric fistula occurs" loading="lazy" decoding="async" ></noscript><img src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20530%20450%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula.png" height="450" width="530" data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula.png 2410w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-300x255.png 300w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1024x870.png 1024w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-768x653.png 768w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1536x1305.png 1536w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-2048x1740.png 2048w" data-sizes="auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px" class="lazyload attachment-content_image_contained size-content_image_contained sp-no-webp" alt="Medical illustration showing how obstetric fistula occurs" loading="lazy" decoding="async" > </picture></figure><div class="aside__content"><h4 class="caption-label caption-label--sm font-weight-semibold mb-0"></h4><div class="font-italic caption-content"><p>Soft tissues are caught between the babyâs head and the mother’s pelvic bone, restricting blood flow.</p></div></div></div></div></aside></div></div></section><div class="modal fade" id="-image-zoom-1" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="-image-zoom-1-label" aria-hidden="true"> <button type="button" class="close modal-close" data-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close"> <span aria-hidden="true">×</span> </button><div class="modal-dialog modal-dialog-centered modal-lg" role="document"><div class="modal-content"><div class="modal-body pb-0 pt-0 pl-0 pr-0"> <picture><source data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula.png.webp 2410w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-300x255.webp 300w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1024x870.webp 1024w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-768x653.webp 768w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1536x1305.webp 1536w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-2048x1740.webp 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2410px) 100v
9w, 2410px" type="image/webp"><noscript><img src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula.png" height="2048" width="2410" srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula.png 2410w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-300x255.png 300w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1024x870.png 1024w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-768x653.png 768w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1536x1305.png 1536w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-2048x1740.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2410px) 100vw, 2410px" class="attachment-full size-full sp-no-webp" alt="Medical illustration showing how obstetric fistula occurs" decoding="async" ></noscript><img src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%202410%202048%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula.png" height="2048" width="2410" data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula.png 2410w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-300x255.png 300w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1024x870.png 1024w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-768x653.png 768w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-1536x1305.png 1536w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WhatIsFistula-2048x1740.png 2048w" data-sizes="(max-width: 2410px) 100vw, 2410px" class="lazyload attachment-full size-full sp-no-webp" alt="Medical illustration showing how obstetric fistula occurs" decoding="async" > </picture></div></div></div></div><section class="section section-margin bg-neutral-200 section-padding" id="cta-image-accordion-2"><div class="container"><div class="row align-items-start justify-content-center"><aside class="col-12 col-sm-5 col-md-4 col-lg-3 order-2 order-sm-1" animate-right><div class="aside__container bg-white"><div class="aside__inner aside__inner--image"><figure class="aside__figure d-block aside__figure--no-zoom"> <picture><source data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/fistulafoundation_20254104-e1659395055546-600x450.webp 600w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/fistulafoundation_20254104-e1659395055546-885x664.webp 885w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" type="image/webp"><noscript><img src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/fistulafoundation_20254104-e1659395055546-600x450.jpg" height="450" width="600" srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/fistulafoundation_20254104-e1659395055546-600x450.jpg 600w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/fistulafoundation_20254104-e1659395055546-885x664.jpg 885w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" class="attachment-content_image_contained size-content_image_contained sp-no-webp" alt="" loading="lazy" decoding="async" ></noscript><img src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20600%20450%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/fistulafoundation_20254104-e1659395055546-600x450.jpg" height="450" width="600" data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/fistulafoundation_20254104-e1659395055546-600x450.jpg 600w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/fistulafoundation_20254104-e1659395055546-885x664.jpg 885w" data-sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" class="lazyload attachment-content_image_contained size-content_image_contained sp-no-webp" alt="" loading="lazy" decoding="async" > </picture></figure><div class="aside__content"><h4 class="caption-label caption-label--sm font-weight-semibold mb-0">Weâre <i>In It to End It</i></h4><div class="font-italic caption-content"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Learn about our <a href="https://fistulafoundation.org/our-plan/">five-year plan</a> to provide 90,000 surgeries to women who are suffering needlessly.</span></p></div></div></div></div></aside><div class="col-12 col-sm-7 col-md-6 col-lg-5 offset-lg-1 order-1 order-sm-2"><h2 class="h1" animate-up>How Untreated Fistula </br>Impacts a Womanâs Life </h2><div class="mt-3" animate-up="2"><p class="intro"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Untreated obstetric fistula most commonly occurs in poor, rural areas of Africa and Asia where the women affected live in dirt-floor dwellings and lack access to running water and incontinence pads.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Under these circumstances, a woman with a fistula or a severe tear faces devastating physical and psychological consequences. Unable to control the leaking of her bodyâs waste, she suffers with chronic infections and pain. Too often, her smell drives away her husband, family and friends. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With little community understanding of her injury and its causes, a woman is frequently blamed for her condition. She too often lives in isolation, unaware that others share her injury and that it is treatable. If the fistula or severe tear occurs during a womanâs first pregnancyâwhen she is in her teens or early twentiesâshe will suffer for decades, if it is not repaired.</span></p></div><div class="mt-4"><div class="accordion" id="accordion-2" animate-up><div class="accordion__item"> <a href="javascript:void(0)" id="accordion-2-can-obstetric-fistula-and-severe-perineal-tears-be-cured" aria-label="Can obstetric fistula and severe perineal tears be cured?" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#accordion-collapse-2-can-obstetric-fistula-and-severe-perineal-tears-be-cured" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="accordion-collapse-2-can-obstetric-fistula-and-severe-perineal-tears-be-cured" class="accordion__trigger"> <span class="toggle-icon"></span> Can obstetric fistula and severe perineal tears be cured? </a><div id="accordion-collapse-2-can-obstetric-fistula-and-severe-perineal-tears-be-cured" class="accordion__content collapse" aria-labelledby="accordion-2-can-obstetric-fistula-and-severe-perineal-tears-be-cured" data-parent="#accordion-2" data-collapsible><div class="accordion__content-inner"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yes. Corrective surgery provides effective treatment for women suffering from an obstetric fistula or a severe perineal tear. If the operation is performed by a skilled surgeon, a woman with either of these childbirth
9injuries can very often return to a normal life, with her continence and hope restored.</span></p><p><span class="s2">Fistula commonly occurs to women in their early twenties, in countries where the average life span is approximately 65 years</span><span class="s3">â</span><span class="s2">meaning a one-time surgical intervention can restore 40+ years of health.</span></p></div></div></div><div class="accordion__item"> <a href="javascript:void(0)" id="accordion-2-do-obstetric-fistula-or-severe-tears-occur-in-wealthy-countries" aria-label="Do obstetric fistula or severe tears occur in wealthy countries?" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#accordion-collapse-2-do-obstetric-fistula-or-severe-tears-occur-in-wealthy-countries" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="accordion-collapse-2-do-obstetric-fistula-or-severe-tears-occur-in-wealthy-countries" class="accordion__trigger"> <span class="toggle-icon"></span> Do obstetric fistula or severe tears occur in wealthy countries? </a><div id="accordion-collapse-2-do-obstetric-fistula-or-severe-tears-occur-in-wealthy-countries" class="accordion__content collapse" aria-labelledby="accordion-2-do-obstetric-fistula-or-severe-tears-occur-in-wealthy-countries" data-parent="#accordion-2" data-collapsible><div class="accordion__content-inner"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even though obstructed labor occurs in approximately 5% of all child births worldwide, obstetric fistula has largely been eradicated in wealthy countries, thanks to the advent of the Cesarean section in the early 1900s. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, fistula persists</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in low-income countries where women have limited access to emergency obstetric care. It continues to destroy womenâs lives at an alarming rate in poor, rural regions of Africa and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Asia, where fewer than 6 out of 10 women give birth with a medical professional present.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perineal</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> tears commonly occur during vaginal childbirth around the world. Small tears can heal on their own with proper management. Because women in wealthy countries usually give birth at a health facility, a severe tear can either be prevented or can immediately be diagnosed and treated. It is unlikely a woman in a wealthy country would live with an untreated tear.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://fistulafoundation.org/where-we-work/"><span class="link link--arrow link--accent">Learn more about where we work</span></a></span></p></div></div></div><div class="accordion__item"> <a href="javascript:void(0)" id="accordion-2-what-are-the-root-causes-of-obstetric-fistula" aria-label="What are the root causes of obstetric fistula?" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#accordion-collapse-2-what-are-the-root-causes-of-obstetric-fistula" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="accordion-collapse-2-what-are-the-root-causes-of-obstetric-fistula" class="accordion__trigger"> <span class="toggle-icon"></span> What are the root causes of obstetric fistula? </a><div id="accordion-collapse-2-what-are-the-root-causes-of-obstetric-fistula" class="accordion__content collapse" aria-labelledby="accordion-2-what-are-the-root-causes-of-obstetric-fistula" data-parent="#accordion-2" data-collapsible><div class="accordion__content-inner"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An obstetric fistula occurs when a mother has a prolonged, obstructed labor, but cannot access emergency medical care, such as a C-section. It is a symptom of deep, intractable poverty and the low status of women and girls.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In poor countries, many children are malnourished, which can stunt their growth. If a young motherâs pelvis is not fully mature, she is at an increased risk of experiencing an obstructed laborâand with it, devastating childbirth injuries like obstetric fistula. T</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">he practice of early marriage and young pregnancy can additionally compound this risk. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another cause of fistula is a critical lack of doctors and medical facilities. In</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> poor, rural regions of Africa and Asia, fewer than 6 out of 10 women give birth with a medical professional present.</span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></section><section class="section section-margin " id="cta-sidebar-content-3"><div class="container"><div class="row align-items-start justify-content-center"><div class="col-12 col-sm-7 col-md-6 order-1 order-sm-1" animate-right><h2 class="h1" animate-up>Why Are Women Still Suffering?</h2><div class="intro h2" animate-up="2"></div><div class="mt-3" animate-up="2"><p class="intro"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Women in Africa and Asia are needlessly suffering today for want of a single surgery that can completely transform their lives.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fistula repair surgery was a common practice in wealthy, western nations in the late 1800s. With the advent of C-sections, fistula has been largely eradicated from wealthy countries. While perineal tears still commonly occur in wealthy nations, prevention and treatment are readily available and women rarely suffer at home. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Living in rural parts of Africa and Asia, women with untreated fistula or severe perineal tears are some of the worldâs most vulnerable individuals. Fistula Foundation exists to remove all barriers to treatment so that every woman can have access to high-quality care.</span></p><p>Learn about<a href="https://fistulafoundation.org/what-is-fistula/why-women-still-suffer/"><span class="link link--arrow link--accent"> barriers to treatment</span></a></p></div></div><aside class="col-12 col-sm-5 col-lg-4 order-2 order-sm-2 offset-lg-1" animate-left><div class="aside__inner aside__inner--image"><figure class="aside__figure border-0 border-radius border-neutral-300"> <picture><source data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1200
9px-Waldorf_Astoria_Hotel-600x450.jpg.webp 600w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1200px-Waldorf_Astoria_Hotel-885x664.jpg.webp 885w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" type="image/webp"><noscript><img src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1200px-Waldorf_Astoria_Hotel-600x450.jpg" height="450" width="600" srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1200px-Waldorf_Astoria_Hotel-600x450.jpg 600w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1200px-Waldorf_Astoria_Hotel-885x664.jpg 885w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" class="attachment-content_image_contained size-content_image_contained sp-no-webp" alt="Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City was the site of the last fistula hospital in the US." loading="lazy" decoding="async" ></noscript><img src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20600%20450%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1200px-Waldorf_Astoria_Hotel-600x450.jpg" height="450" width="600" data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1200px-Waldorf_Astoria_Hotel-600x450.jpg 600w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/1200px-Waldorf_Astoria_Hotel-885x664.jpg 885w" data-sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" class="lazyload attachment-content_image_contained size-content_image_contained sp-no-webp" alt="Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City was the site of the last fistula hospital in the US." loading="lazy" decoding="async" > </picture></figure><div class="figure__caption mt-4"> <span class="caption-label"></span><p>The last fistula hospital in the United States was in New York Cityâwhere the Waldorf Hotel now stands. It closed in 1895. <em>© 1988 by James G. Howes.</em></p></div></div></aside></div></div></section><section class="section section-padding section--quote bg-accent" data-colour_init="light" id="quote-4"><div class="quote-shape " aria-hidden="true"></div><div class="container"><div class="row justify-content-center"><div class="col-11 col-md-8 text-center"><blockquote> <q>Taking action means saying 'no' to indifference...It is a choice: whether or not to supp
9ort a woman, whether or not to protect her, whether or not to defend her rights.</q></blockquote> <cite class="d-block mt-6"> <span class="cite__name">Dr. Denis Mukwege</span> <span class="cite__meta">2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner and fistula surgeon</span> </cite></div></div></div></section><section class="section section-margin" id="video-5"><div class="container"><div class="row justify-content-center"><div class="col-12 col-md-10" animate-up><h2 class="h1" animate-up><center>What Is Fistula?</br></h2><div id="section-video-5" class="video border-radius"> <a href="javascript:void(0)" class="js-video-play-inline play-button" data-video_url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKVzQQM_QKs?autoplay=1"> <i class="play play--circle"></i> </a><div class="video__image"> <span class="loader loader--white loader--overlay"> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?><svg xmlns:svg="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" version="1.0" width="74px" height="74px" viewBox="0 0 128 128" xml:space="preserve"><g><path d="M64 9.75A54.25 54.25 0 0 0 9.75 64H0a64 64 0 0 1 128 0h-9.75A54.25 54.25 0 0 0 64 9.75z" fill="#000000" fill-opacity="1"/><animateTransform attributeName="transform" type="rotate" from="0 64 64" to="360 64 64" dur="1000ms" repeatCount="indefinite"></animateTransform></g></svg> </span> <picture><source data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/fistulafoundation_34773704-2160x864.webp " type="image/webp"><noscript><img src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/fistulafoundation_34773704-2160x864.jpg" height="864" width="2160" class="video__image-bg sp-no-webp" alt="" aria-hidden="true" decoding="async" ></noscript><img src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%202160%20864%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/fistulafoundation_34773704-2160x864.jpg" height="864" width="2160" class="lazyload video__image-bg sp-no-webp" alt="" aria-hidden="true" decoding="async" > </picture><div class="js-video-inline video__inline"></div></div></div></div></div></div></section><section class="section section-padding " data-colour_init="dark" id="cta-fullwidth-image-6"><div class="container"><div class="row justify-content-center text-center"><div class="col-12 col-md-6" animate-down><div class="mt-4"><p class="intro"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fistula Foundation works to end the suffering caused by devastating childbirth injuries, because we believe no woman should endure a life of misery simply for trying to bring a child into the world. </span></p></div><div class="mt-6"> <label class="learn-label mb-3">Learn More</label> <a class="cta-link" href="https://fistulafoundation.org/what-we-do/" aria-label="What We Do" target="">What We Do</a></div></div></div></div></section></main></div><section class="section section-padding donation-widget footer-donation"><div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-12 col-md-6"><h2 class="h1 font-crimson">You Can Transform a Womanâs Life</h2><div class="donation__content h2"> A gift of $624 provides a high-quality surgery that can cure a womanâs incontinence and restore her health.</div><div class="d-flex donation__charity-info align-items-start"> <picture><source data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-195x195.png 195w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-300x300.webp 300w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-1024x1024.webp 1024w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-150x150.webp 150w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-768x768.webp 768w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-1536x1536.webp 1536w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-210x210.png 210w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-450x450.webp 450w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-600x600.webp 600w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-424x424.webp 424w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-585x585.webp 585w,https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT.webp 1801w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 195px) 100v
9w, 195px" type="image/webp"><noscript><img src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-195x195.png" height="195" width="195" srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-195x195.png 195w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-300x300.png 300w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-150x150.png 150w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-768x768.png 768w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-1536x1536.png 1536w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-210x210.png 210w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-450x450.png 450w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-600x600.png 600w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-424x424.png 424w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-585x585.png 585w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT.png 1801w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px" class="attachment-logo_130 size-logo_130 sp-no-webp" alt="" loading="lazy" decoding="async" ></noscript><img src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20195%20195%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-195x195.png" height="195" width="195" data-srcset="https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-195x195.png 195w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-300x300.png 300w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-150x150.png 150w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-768x768.png 768w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-1536x1536.png 1536w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-210x210.png 210w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-450x450.png 450w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-600x600.png 600w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-424x424.png 424w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT-585x585.png 585w, https://fistulafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ratings_RGB_4star_2026_WHT.png 1801w" data-sizes="auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px" class="lazyload attachment-logo_130 size-logo_130 sp-no-webp" alt="" loading="lazy" decoding="async" > </picture><div class="pl-4 link--neutral-800"><p>Every year since 2006, we have received the <a href="https://fistulafoundation.org/charity-ratings/">highest rating</a> from every nonprofit sector watchdog group.</p></div></div></div><div class="col-12 col-md-5 offset-md-1"><div class="border-radius bg-white text-neutral-800 blackbaud-donation-widget-container" data-form-mode="default"><div class="blackbaud-donation-widget"><div class="blackbaud-form-row blackbaud-donation-frequency serif mb-3"><div class="blackbaud-donation-frequency-option-container is-active"> <input type="radio" checked class="clear-field-styles border-0 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