Fecal Incontinence

Take Back Control of Your Life

Don’t let bowel accidents keep you from living confidently. Find answers. Find relief.

Experiencing accidental bowel leakage can be frustrating, embarrassing, and isolating. Many people silently cope with symptoms for years, avoiding travel, social events, exercise, or even everyday activities because they’re worried about an unexpected accident. At Premier Urology, we understand how difficult these conversations can be. Our experienced providers offer compassionate, personalized care to diagnose the cause of your symptoms and develop a treatment plan that helps you regain confidence and control.

Whether you’re experiencing occasional leaking poop or more frequent episodes of loss of bowel control, you don’t have to manage it alone. Effective treatment options are available.

What Is Fecal Incontinence?

Fecal incontinence, also called bowel incontinence, is the inability to control bowel movements, resulting in stool leaking unexpectedly. Symptoms may range from occasional leakage while passing gas to complete loss of bowel control.

Although the condition becomes more common with age, fecal incontinence is not a normal part of aging. It often results from an underlying medical condition that can be diagnosed and treated.

Common symptoms include:

• Accidental bowel leakage
• Leaking stool before reaching the restroom
• Difficulty controlling bowel movements
• Sudden urgency to have a bowel movement
• Frequent episodes of leaking poop
• Loss of bowel control during everyday activities

If these symptoms are affecting your quality of life, it’s important to seek medical evaluation rather than simply trying to manage them on your own.

What Causes Fecal Incontinence?

Several conditions can contribute to bowel control problems. During your evaluation, your provider will work to identify the underlying cause before recommending treatment.

Common causes include:

• Weak or damaged anal sphincter muscles
• Nerve damage affecting bowel control
• Chronic constipation
• Chronic diarrhea
• Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
• Childbirth-related injuries
• Previous pelvic or colorectal surgery
• Neurological conditions

For many patients, bowel incontinence develops gradually over time, while others experience symptoms following surgery, injury, or illness. Regardless of the cause, treatment is often available.

How Is Fecal Incontinence Treated?

Your treatment plan will depend on the severity of your symptoms, your overall health, and the underlying cause of your bowel control issues. Many patients experience significant improvement through a combination of conservative therapies and advanced treatment options.

Lifestyle and Dietary Changes

Simple modifications can often reduce symptoms, including:

• Increasing dietary fiber when appropriate
• Identifying and avoiding foods that trigger diarrhea
• Staying properly hydrated
• Establishing regular bowel habits
• Maintaining a healthy weight

Pelvic Floor Therapy

Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through specialized exercises or physical therapy may improve bowel control and reduce episodes of accidental leakage for some patients.

Medications

Depending on the cause of your symptoms, medications may be recommended to improve stool consistency, reduce diarrhea, or help regulate bowel function.

Advanced Therapies

For patients whose symptoms do not improve with conservative treatment, advanced therapies may provide lasting relief. Minimally invasive options are available that help restore communication between the bowel and the brain, improving bowel control and reducing leakage episodes.

Your Premier Urology provider will determine whether advanced treatment options are appropriate based on your individual needs.

When Should You See a Specialist?

Schedule an evaluation if you:

• Experience accidental bowel leakage
• Frequently have difficulty reaching the restroom in time
• Notice ongoing loss of bowel control
• Avoid activities because of bowel accidents
• Have persistent diarrhea or constipation along with leakage
• Feel anxious or embarrassed about bowel symptoms

Many people delay seeking care because they’re uncomfortable discussing bowel health. However, early diagnosis can lead to more effective treatment and significantly improve your quality of life.

Compassionate Care for Bowel Incontinence

No one should have to plan their life around the fear of an accident. At Premier Urology, we provide discreet, compassionate care for patients experiencing fecal incontinence, bowel incontinence, and accidental bowel leakage. Our goal is to identify the cause of your symptoms, develop a personalized treatment plan, and help you regain confidence in your daily life.

If you’re living with leaking poop or ongoing loss of bowel control, our experienced team is here to help you find lasting relief.

Learn More

To learn more about bowel health and available treatment options, visit these trusted patient education resources:

• Talk About It: https://www.talkleaks.com
• Medtronic Bowel Health: https://www.medtronic.com/bowel

Questions and Answers