Incontinence Guide

Bowel Incontinence in Women: What’s the Most Common Cause?

 

When everyone hears incontinence, they naturally assume it refers to urinary incontinence. Unfortunately, this also can apply to bowel or fecal incontinence. The inability to control our bowels can lead to instances of embarrassment and force those who may suffer from it into isolation and a retreat from being social. That’s not how we should live our lives!! I can give you some insight into the causes of bowel incontinence in women and some ways to solve the problem. Be sure to visit www.healthproductsforyou.com for all your incontinence needs, urinary or fecal.

Common Causes of Bowel Incontinence in Women

While bowel or fecal incontinence can affect anyone, it can be prevalent in women, especially as we get older. The reasons for bowel incontinence can be both common and, well not so common. Common symptoms of fecal incontinence can be the inability to hold gas, leakage of stool during daily activities, and the inability to reach the toilet in time. Some of the more common causes of bowel incontinence in women can include:

• Diarrhea: Whether you are sick or dealing with diarrhea, it is much more difficult to control your stool. Those who may be experiencing chronic diarrhea have a higher risk of experiencing bowel incontinence. Unfortunately, this is not exclusive to women.
• Childbirth: Women who have given birth traditionally/vaginally can experience an increased risk of fecal incontinence. This is due to muscles and tissues of the rectum that can be stretched/torn or when the sphincter is damaged during delivery. More reason to give mom an extra hug!!
• Aging: Due to a weakening or thinning of rectum muscles and tissues, those over the age of 65 can become more susceptible to bowel incontinence. Poor mobility and cognitive issues such as dementia can also negatively affect our ability to get to the bathroom on time or control our bowels.
• Constipation: Doesn’t seem logical but constipation can lead to bowel incontinence but fecal impaction can weaken muscles causing stool (especially watery stools) to leak out. Straining to pass constipated stool can lead to rectal prolapse.

As you can imagine, these are very common reasons someone (let alone women) may have to deal with bowel incontinence. Many women may have to deal with some less common causes of fecal incontinence.

They can be:

• Mobility issues: The inability to reach the bathroom in a timely manner can lead to bowel leakage and incontinence. A physical disability or just age-related mobility can be the culprit. Believe it or not, inactivity can cause constipation leading to fecal incontinence.
• Surgery: Rectal scarring from surgery or radiation therapy can prevent the rectum from stretching, therefore leading to stool leakage.
• Nerve or muscle damage: Damage to the nerves that signal your need to move your bowels or muscles that control bowel movements can lead to fecal incontinence. Spinal cord injuries, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis are several examples of nerve/muscle damage that can lead to bowel incontinence.
• Diet: Some foods and drinks can increase the need to visit the bathroom. This can cause diarrhea leading to a greater risk of bowel incontinence. The biggest offenders are caffeine and alcohol.
• Bowel issues: There are certain diseases/disorders that can cause bowel incontinence. These include issues such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcerative colitis.

Are There Treatments for Bowel Incontinence?

Bowel incontinence can be caused by a variety of reasons so it may be necessary to tackle it on multiple fronts. Fortunately, there are many professionals that are well equipped to help you deal with fecal incontinence. Gastroenterologists, gynecologists, and even physical therapists can help you get a handle on this issue. 4 popular approaches they may take can be:

1. Improving stool quality: By regulating the quality of your stool you can minimize the risk of fecal incontinence. Medicines to control diarrhea or fiber supplements can increase the bulk of your stool.
2. Physical therapy: If you’re experiencing bowel incontinence due to, say childbirth or nerve damage, physical therapy can diminish the risk of leakage.
3. Surgery: Bowel incontinence can sometimes lead to rectal prolapse and this can be corrected with surgery.
4. Medical devices: As with a great deal of other issues, medical devices such as nerve stimulators can help control muscles in the anus. This can help minimize the risk of bowel leakage.
5. Bowel training: By going to the bathroom at scheduled times can help train your body when to go. This can help with sudden urges and the inability to quickly get to the toilet.
6. Medications to decrease bowel motion: These medications can help possibly slow the process of bowel movement avoiding sudden urges and possible fecal leakage.

When to Seek Medical Attention

You should seek medical attention when any bowel or fecal incontinence interferes with your everyday activities, even if it seems minor. Not only can fecal incontinence diminish your quality of life, but it can cause skin irritation and breakdowns leading to infection.

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References:

1. Fecal incontinence - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
2. What are the Symptoms & Causes of Fecal Incontinence?
3. What is fecal (bowel) incontinence?
4. Overview of Fecal Incontinence
5. What do you mean by Fecal Incontinence?
6. Fecal Incontinence in Women: Q&A with an Expert

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