Fecal Incontinence- Embarrassing but Treatable Part 1

Fecal incontinence is defined as the inability to control one’s bowel movements, thus resulting in spontaneous leakage of fecal material from the rectum. Fecal incontinence can be mild- ranging from the sporadic leak of a small amount of stool to complete loss of bowel control. This problem affects close to 6 million Americans and countless more have not been diagnosed for fear of embarrassment.

There are many causes of fecal incontinence including constipation, diarrhea, nerve or muscle damage to the rectal sphincter. The rectal sphincter is under delicate nerve control. The nerves to the rectal sphincter may become weak with aging or the nerves or muscles can be injured during childbirth, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, excessive use of laxatives or rectal cancer. No matter what the cause of fecal incontinence, the disorder is both unpleasant and embarrassing. The only way to treat the condition is by talking to your health care provider.

There are a variety of treatments available today that can improve incontinence and help you lead a normal lifestyle. Fecal incontinence can occur at any age but is generally more common in the elderly. Females generally have a higher incidence of incontinence, which has been linked to either multiple births or complications at childbirth. Another common cause of incontinence is Alzheimer’s’ disease.