Digestive Diseases: Bowel Incontinence

Introduction

Bowel or fecal incontinence is the loss of voluntary control of stool, or bowel movements. This condition can vary from being partial, in which a person loses only a small amount of liquid waste, to complete, in which the entire solid bowel movement cannot be controlled.

Bowel incontinence affects about 10% of the U.S. population. Both men and women suffer from this problem, though it is more common in women because of injury to the anal muscles or nerves that can occur during childbirth. Bowel incontinence becomes more common with advancing age as the muscles that control bowel movements (anal sphincter muscles) weaken.

Often, embarrassment and the stigma associated with incontinence prevent people from seeking treatment, even when incontinence affects his or her quality of life. Many people resort to altering their social and physical activities, even their employment, to cope with the problem. In addition, some people with bowel incontinence do not see a doctor because they just don't realize that their problem can be effectively treated. It's important to understand that bowel incontinence is not uncommon and can be successfully treated.

What Causes Bowel Incontinence?

Normal control of bowel movements depends on proper functioning of the colon and rectum, the muscles surrounding the anus (anal sphincter muscles), the brain and the body's nerves (the nervous system), plus the amount and consistency of waste products produced.

There are many causes of bowel incontinence, including:

• Damage or injury to the anal sphincter muscles or the nerves surrounding these muscles
  
• Anal surgery for another condition
  
• Certain medications, such as antibiotics or Neurontin
  
• Improper diet
  
• Radiation treatment to the lower pelvic region
  
• Chemotherapy
  
• Stroke
  
• Conditions associated with chronic diarrhea or constipation
  
• Systemic (whole-body) diseases such as diabetes or scleroderma
  
• Spinal cord damage

What Can I Do if I Have Bowel Incontinence?

See your doctor. Tests to determine the cause for incontinence can be completed during an outpatient appointment and are not painful.

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Once these tests have confirmed the cause of your incontinence, your doctor can make specific recommendations for treatment, many of which do not require surgery.

No matter how serious the problem seems, incontinence is a condition that can be significantly helped and, in most cases, cured.