Culdocentesis is a medical procedure involving the extraction of fluid from the rectouterine pouch (pouch of Douglas)[1] posterior to the vagina through a needle.

It can be one diagnostic technique used in identifying pelvic inflammatory disease (in which case purulent fluid will be extracted) and ruptured ectopic pregnancies that cause hemoperitoneum.

[2] In the procedure, the rectouterine pouch is often reached through the posterior fornix of the vagina.

The process of creating the hole is called colpotomy if a scalpel incision is made to drain the fluid rather than using a needle.

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