Fecal incontinence affects approximately 1 in 3 people

Nobody really wants to talk about accidental bowel leakage, but hiding it or ignoring it won’t make things better. Our Houston urologists and urogynecologist don’t want you to feel embarrassed to talk about fecal incontinence, also known as bowel incontinence. Our team urges patients to tell us about every aspect of the problem, so we can diagnose, treat and manage the condition.

What causes accidental bowel leakage?

There are two types of bowel incontinence. Urge incontinence makes people have a sudden “gotta poo” feeling, and it sometimes happens so fast that it’s impossible to make it to a toilet. Passive incontinence happens when someone can’t feel that they need to have a bowel movement, or they don’t feel it when they do have one. Sometimes, stool may leak out when a patient passes gas.

A wide variety of issues and conditions cause bowel leakage. Sometimes, a combination of problems causes fecal incontinence. Here are a few of the causes.

What are the risk factors for fecal incontinence?

Accidental bowel leakage is more common in women. Certain other factors increase a patient’s risk of developing bowel incontinence.

• Being older than age 65
• Digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease or Crohn’s disease
• Physical or mobility issues
• Mental issues, such as Alzheimer’s, that affect the ability to perceive the need to get to the bathroom

While patients can’t control many of the risk factors for fecal incontinence, they can control lifestyle factors. They can lose weight, get active, seek treatment for chronic diarrhea and constipation, quit smoking, and stop drinking alcohol or caffeine.

Our team uses a variety of approaches to diagnose and treat bowel incontinence

After a detailed anal, rectal and neurological examination, our Houston urologists decide if patients need to undergo more tests. These may include tests to see how well the anus and rectum are functioning, as well as imaging examinations to look at the colon and rectum. Treatment ranges from lifestyle and dietary modifications to medication and surgery. Many patients also benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy.

Talking to our Houston urologists and urogynecologist about bowel leakage

Our team of experts works to help patients feel comfortable enough to share details about difficult topics, such as bowel incontinence. If leakage happens more than once or twice, or begins to affect daily life and relationships, it is definitely time to contact us. We can help you deal with the emotional and physical issues associated with fecal incontinence.