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 more than 2% 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.
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.
How is bowel incontinence diagnosed?
Endosonography, also called rectal ultrasound, makes it possible to view the
anal sphincter muscles and precisely identify abnormalities. Ultrasound can be
used to locate the exact position of a tear in a muscle, even before bowel
incontinence becomes a problem.