Fecal Incontinence:
What is fecal incontinence?
Fecal incontinence is the inability to control your bowels. A person with fecal incontinence may feel the urge to have a bowel movement, but may not be able to wait until he or she can get to a toilet. Fecal incontinence may also include the unexpected leaking of stool from the rectum.
More than 5.5 million Americans have fecal incontinence, and it can affect people of all ages. Fecal incontinence is more common in women than in men and more common in older adults. It is not, however, a normal part of aging. People who have fecal incontinence may feel ashamed, embarrassed, or humiliated. Some people do not want to leave their house out of fear they might have an accident in public. Most try to hide the problem as long as they can, so they withdraw from friends and family. Fortunately treatments may make living with this condition easier.
Causes and Symptoms:
A person’s bowel function is controlled by: anal sphincter pressure, rectal storage capacity and rectal sensation. The anal sphincter is a muscle that contracts in order to prevent stool from leaving the rectum. This muscle is critical in maintaining continence. The rectal storage capacity allows the rectum can stretch and hold stool for some time after a person becomes aware that the stool is there. Rectal sensation tells a person that stool is in the rectum, which tells the person that it is time to go to the bathroom. If something is wrong with any one of these three factors, then fecal incontinence may occur.
Diagnosis:
In order to diagnose a patient with fecal incontinence, a physician may perform a number of diagnostic tests. In addition to a physical exam, a doctor may perform on of the following exams: anal manometry, anorectal ultrasonography, proctography, anal electromyography, or a proctosigmoidoscopy.
Treatment options:
The treatment of fecal incontinence will depend greatly on the cause and severity of the problem. Treatment options may include dietary changes, medications, bowel training, or surgery. Oftentimes, a physician will recommend more than one form of treatment to best care for the symptoms.
Related information:
| University of Missouri Health Care | This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. |
