Bowel incontinence simply means leakage of liquid or solid stool that cannot be controlled. The condition can be caused by a variety of factors, all of which are unpredictable.

People who have bowel incontinence might feel the need to use a toilet, but cannot hold their stool until they get there. Others may lack sensation, and stool leaks from the rectum. The loss of gas is included in the broader term “anal incontinence.” All of these conditions can lead to embarrassment, reluctance to go out in public and social isolation.

Bowel incontinence is much more prevalent than most people think. Among adults under the age of 40, at least six percent have the problem. And those numbers may be twice as high, because many people who experience bowel incontinence don’t want to talk about it, making the condition under-reported. It is also a leading reason families make the decision to move a loved one to a nursing home.

Who Has Incontinence?
Many people with incontinence are otherwise healthy and active. Risk of getting the condition is slightly higher for women and older adults, although it affects all ages. Furthermore, the following factors increase the chances of bowel incontinence: multiple childbirths, episiotomy, neurologic diseases, diabetes, stroke, irritable bowel syndrome, spinal cord injury (SCI) and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Men, women and children all deal with the bowel incontinence, an issue that can adversely affect their day-to-day lives. Studies have shown that incontinence is often hidden, with people making great efforts to keep it a secret from friends, spouses and even their own doctor.

Having bowel incontinence can dictate the way someone lives: what they eat, what they wear, and where they go. Many times, a person with incontinence withdraws from outings rather than risk an episode. Going to a movie, eating at a restaurant and even sexual intimacy may all be avoided.

Incontinence Control
That’s a shame, because there are incontinence management and treatment plans available. Dietary changes, medication for diarrhea and/or constipation, bowel management, biofeedback, or surgery may all allow someone to regain confidence and an expanded social schedule.

It’s not only activities of choice that are affected. Research shows that individuals with fecal incontinence miss an average of 15 days of school or work annually, while an estimated 13 percent don’t go to school or work at all due to the problem.

Causes
The root causes of bowel incontinence are varied, but all involve the muscles and nerves of the rectum and anal canal. Any condition that affects their functioning can result in incontinence. Muscle damage or weakness, nerve damage, diarrhea, and even constipation are culprits, as well as pelvic floor dysfunction and a loss of storage capacity in the colon.

Women are uniquely predisposed to bowel incontinence due to pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, hysterectomy and other surgeries that affect their reproductive system. The elderly also have an increased likelihood of having the condition, with up to ten percent of older men and twenty percent of older women experiencing incontinence. However, bowel incontinence is not a normal part of aging.