Twelve patients aged between 25 and 48 years with parity ranging from 2 to 4 were treated for rectovaginal fistula at the First Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catania University Medical School, Catania, Italy from 1965 to 1985. In all patients the rectovaginal fistula was in the inferior third of the vagina and of maximum diameter of 5 cm. Therapy consisted of surgical correction in 9 patients with transformation of the fistula into a complete perineal tear cutting the bridge of healthy tissue under the fistula. Follow-up period varying from 2 to 16 years showed no recurrence.