Fecal Incontinence Can Be a Side Effect of Various Conditions Including Constipation

Many conditions can carry as a side effect some degree of fecal incontinence, so if you are affected or someone you care for is struggling with the issue, having a better understanding of the potential causes could help ease the way toward treatment or acceptance.

First, of course, realize that for any type of incontinence, working closely with your doctor is important since many types can be lessened or even corrected with proper medical care.

Fecal incontinence is not nearly as common as urinary incontinence. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that in a study involving older adults, 25 percent had moderate, severe, or very severe urinary leakage but only about eight percent had moderate, severe, or very severe bowel leakage. Still, that is not an insignificant number so the causes bear considering.

What are the risk factors for fecal incontinence?

The risk factors are numerous but a partial list includes age, being female, nerve damage, and dementia, as well as physical disabilities that keep people from reaching the toilet on time.

Situations that can result in fecal incontinence:

Women can experience fecal incontinence after childbirth due to muscle and/or nerve damage that results from injury to the anal sphincter that holds back the stool. This is more common if an episiotomy, forceps, or both are used during the process of delivering the child.

Then, there’s the more common issue of constipation. Repeated straining…

Continue reading on Egosancares for more about the causes of fecal incontinence:

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