Bowel Incontinence

Summary

Bowel incontinence is the inability to control your bowels. When you feel the urge to have a bowel movement, you may not be able to hold it until you get to a toilet. Millions of Americans have this problem. It affects people of all ages – children and adults. It is more common in women and older adults. It is not a normal part of aging.

Causes include:

• Constipation
• Damage to muscles or nerves of the anus and rectum
• Diarrhea
• Pelvic floor disorders

Treatments include changes in diet, medicines, bowel training, or surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

• Accidental Bowel Leakage American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Fecal Incontinence American Academy of Family Physicians

Patient Handouts

• Bowel incontinence Medical Encyclopedia
• Encopresis Medical Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia

• Bowel retraining Medical Encyclopedia

Treatments and Therapies

• Bowel Retraining: Strategies for Establishing Bowel Control International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Cecostomy Johns Hopkins Medicine
• Incontinence Treatment: Biofeedback International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Incontinence Treatment: Medication International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Incontinence Treatment: Newer Treatment Options International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Incontinence Treatment: Surgical Treatments International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Understanding Antegrade Colonic Enema (ACE) Surgery Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Children

• Encopresis (Soiling) Nemours Foundation
• Fecal Incontinence in Children International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Older Adults

• Fecal Incontinence AGS Health in Aging Foundation

Living With

• Incontinence Treatment: Dietary Tips International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Statistics and Research

• Prevalence of Bowel Incontinence International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Journal Articles

• Bowel Incontinence

Diagnosis and Tests

• Stool Diary National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Symptoms

• Symptoms of Incontinence International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders