Fecal incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool (feces) to leak unexpectedly and involuntarily from the rectum. Fecal incontinence ranges from an occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control.
Common causes are muscle or nerve damage from childbirth, constant straining during bowel movements due to constipation, diarrhea, spinal cord injury, stroke, genetic or anatomic anomalies. Regardless of the cause, don’t be embarrassed. Talk to your doctor about treatment options. Don’t suffer in silence.