Tag Archives: Bowel Incontinence

What is Anal Leakage?

Anal leakage, or fecal incontinence, is the involuntary discharge of bowel contents, including gas, mucus, liquid stool, or solid stool from the rectum. It can range from occasional minor leaks to a complete loss of bowel control.

While it can be an uncomfortable and often embarrassing problem, it’s important to recognize that fecal incontinence is a common issue, affecting about one in 10 adults. Anal leakage can occur at any age, but it is more common in women and people over 65. 

It may be difficult to discuss fecal incontinence, but speaking with a doctor about anal leakage treatments can improve the condition and your quality of life.

The Difference between Anal Leakage and Anal Seepage

Though anal leakage and anal seepage are terms that are often used interchangeably, they can refer to slightly different conditions. 

Anal leakage refers to any unintentional loss of stool, whether solid, liquid, or gas, from the rectum. Anal leakage can occur due to a variety of underlying issues.

Anal seepage typically describes the unintentional release of small amounts of stool or mucus, often resulting in staining underwear. It is usually a less severe form of fecal incontinence.

What Causes Anal Leakage?

Several factors contribute to anal leakage, and for some people, there is more than one cause attributing to the condition. A few causes of anal leakage include:

  • Muscle injury: Childbirth, surgery, or trauma may damage the muscles around the pelvic floor, rectum, or anus. 
  • Nerve Damage: Conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injuries can affect the nerves that control bowel movements.
  • Diarrhea: Frequent, loose, and watery stools can be difficult to control, leading to leakage.
  • Constipation: Chronic constipation can stretch and weaken the rectal muscles, resulting in leakage of liquid stool around hard stool.
  • Hemorrhoids: Swollen veins in the rectum or anus can interfere with the closure of the anal sphincter.
  • Aging: The muscles and nerves controlling the bowel can weaken with age, leading to incontinence.

What are the Symptoms of Anal Leakage?

The symptoms of anal leakage can vary depending on the severity of the condition and its underlying cause. It is important to note that there are two different types of fecal incontinence:

Urge incontinence is when a strong urge to have a bowel movement appears all of a sudden. The urge comes on so suddenly that the person is unable to make it to the bathroom in time. 

Passive incontinence is when someone has a bowel movement and is unaware of the passing stool.

Common symptoms of fecal incontinence include:

  • The unintentional release of gas, mucus, or stool 
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Sudden urges to go to the bathroom
  • Soiling underwear

Treating Anal Leakage

There are a variety of treatments for anal leakage, depending on the underlying causes and the severity of the condition. 

  • Dietary Changes: Increasing fiber intake can help manage both diarrhea and constipation, improving stool consistency and bowel regularity.
  • Medications: Antidiarrheal drugs, stool softeners, or laxatives can be prescribed to manage bowel movements.
  • Pelvic Floor Exercises: These exercises can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and improve bowel control.
  • Biofeedback Therapy: This technique helps patients learn to control their pelvic floor muscles through feedback from sensors.
  • Surgical Options: In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair damaged sphincter muscles or address rectal prolapse.
  • Sacral neuromodulation: This is a device implanted just underneath the skin of the pelvis above the buttocks, which emits electrical pulses to adjust neural activity controlling the bowels.

Finding Treatment at the Incontinence Institute in Middle Tennessee

Anal leakage is a common condition that can significantly impact your quality of life. Understanding its causes, recognizing the symptoms, and seeking appropriate treatment are crucial steps in managing this condition.

If you experience symptoms of anal leakage, contact our team in Middle Tennessee for an evaluation and personalized treatment plan. Remember, you are not alone, and effective treatments are available to help you regain control and confidence.

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Passive Bowel Incontinence

Millions of people across the United States suffer from passive incontinence each day. They experience different symptoms, such as anal leakage after a bowel movement, and may be embarrassed to talk with a professional. However, we are here to help. First, let’s learn about passive bowel incontinence, and feel free to contact us with more specific questions.

What is Passive Bowel Incontinence?

With passive bowel incontinence, the brain fails to send a warning that the rectum is full and the person does not feel the urge to open their bowels. When this occurs, a person cannot consciously control their bowel movements and may pass stools unwillingly. This type of incontinence can also be known as passive fecal incontinence or passive soiling.

Causes of Passive Fecal Incontinence

Although the causes of passive incontinence vary, it is usually caused by the body’s inability to control the bowel. The most common causes of passive incontinence are:

  • Rectum problems
  • Nerve damage
  • Sphincter muscle issues
  • Other issues such as constipation, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids

The causes of Passive incontinence may be corrected through simple lifestyle and dietary changes. Overall, it is very treatable.

Symptoms of Passive Bowel Incontinence

Several symptoms may indicate one is suffering from passive incontinence:

  • Involuntary and unawareness of the passage of stool
  • Aversion to social situations
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Leakage
  • Passing stool during flatulence

Find Relief Today with the Incontinence Institute

Passive incontinence can be one of the most mentally detrimental forms of incontinence. People with passive bowel incontinence may avoid social situations and interactions, even work, to avoid accidents. If you suffer from passive incontinence, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

To learn more, contact our team in Middle Tennessee or call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 1.615.985.6536.

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Double Incontinence

Dual incontinence, also known as double incontinence, occurs when an individual suffers with both bladder and bowel incontinence. This condition affects women and men equally.

The incidence rate is lower than urinary or bowel incontinence in isolation. Although dual incontinence tends to occur in older individuals, it is not a natural part of the aging process.

Studies have shown that for those suffering from dual incontinence, quality of life is more severely affected than those who suffer from only urinary incontinence. If you are suffering from dual incontinence, it is not unusual to feel embarrassed over the social stigma associated with this condition.

Urinary and bowel incontinence, in isolation or combination, are treatable conditions. If you suffer from dual incontinence, the first step is to call the Incontinence Institute so we can connect you with a physician trained in treating this condition and its symptoms.


The symptoms of dual incontinence are the same as those found in urinary incontinence and bowel incontinence, which can include, but are not limited to:

  • Loss of urine and stool
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Flatulence
  • Irritated or itchy anus
  • Abdominal pain or cramping
  • Bloating

As with urinary or bowel incontinence, diagnosis begins with a thorough look at your medical history and a full physical examination. Following this step, patients will likely undergo diagnostic testing to aid in a precise diagnosis of the condition. For the convenience of our patients, diagnostic testing is typically performed onsite during the initial visit.

If you or a loved one suffers from dual incontinence, please contact us today. We can connect you with a physician who can help

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Fecal Impaction

Fecal Impaction, also called encopresis or impacted bowel, typically occurs when stool builds up in the rectum, eventually becoming hard and impacted. As the impacted stool becomes more difficult to pass, loose, runny stool behind the impaction begins to leak out around the impaction, causing overflow incontinence. Some people refer to this as overflow diarrhea.

Symptoms typically include:

  • Pain in or around the rectum and anus
  • Abdominal cramps or bloating
  • Frequent gas
  • Ulcers or fissures (tears in the anal tissue)
  • Soiled undergarments

Dealing with the symptoms of fecal impaction can have a major impact on self-confidence and self-esteem, even causing feelings of depression and sadness. Left untreated, repeated and severe impactions can eventually damage rectal tissue, exacerbating bowel incontinence symptoms and making the condition more difficult to treat.

If you are suffering from encopresis, do not be embarrassed. Nearly 10 percent of men and women in the U.S. suffer from bowel incontinence in some form, almost 30 million people!

But it is also important to understand that incontinence is not a normal part of aging. However, bowel incontinence is a treatable condition and, in many cases, completely correctable.

Treatment of fecal impaction involves not only treating the current impaction problem, but also diagnosing issues that may be causing the problem in the first place, such as the production of dry stools that may be painful to pass or a slow-moving colon. Sometimes, dietary and lifestyle changes are all that are needed, other times, medication or other medical intervention can help treat the cause.

If bowel incontinence symptoms are affecting your everyday life, the first step in feeling more confident is to see your doctor to discuss your symptoms. Remember: Physicians specializing in incontinence treat patients with the same type of symptoms every day, so there is no reason to hesitate or feel embarrassed. Every day that you delay treatment is one more day you have to live with uncomfortable symptoms. Contact our doctors in Middle Tennessee today for an appointment.

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Rectal Leakage

The term bowel incontinence is an umbrella term used to classify multiple types of bowel control issues. Rectal incontinence is a form of bowel incontinence in which the nerves in the sphincter muscles begin to function improperly causing affected individuals to defecate with little to no warning.

This inability is caused by malfunction of nerves in the area that send messages to the brain signaling when to expel stool or flatus. When these important nerves are damaged in the anal sphincter muscles, anal leakage and bowel control problems result.

Symptoms of rectal incontinence include:

  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Frequent flatus
  • Bloating
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Soiled undergarments
  • Complete loss of bowel control

It is a misconception that rectal incontinence is a normal party of aging. It is not. This embarrassing condition is treatable, and in many cases, completely correctable. We can connect you with a physician who can help.

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Flatus Bowel Incontinence

Flatus bowel incontinence, also called flatus incontinence or flatal incontinence, is a dysfunction of the bowel. People who live with this condition can’t feel the gas coming, which means they are unable to restrain it.

This condition often comes together with fecal incontinence, which is the inability to control the escape of feces from the anus. Diagnosing flatus incontinence and addressing its cause is essential to improving your quality of life.

What Is Flatus Incontinence? 

Flatus incontinence is the involuntary loss of gas through the rectum. This bowel dysfunction affects both men and women. In some cases, a person may feel the fullness of the rectum without being able to tell whether it’s gas or feces. This can lead to embarrassing situations.

The symptoms of flatulence incontinence include:

  • Involuntary passing of gas (flatus)
  • Difficulty controlling the release of gas, leading to accidental leakage
  • Sensation of gas passing without the ability to hold it in
  • Increased frequency of bowel movements
  • Feeling of incomplete evacuation after passing gas

The condition is more common in older adults. Up to 15 out of 100 adults who aren’t in hospitals or nursing homes live with flatus incontinence.

Cause of Flatus Incontinence 

Flatus bowel incontinence can have several causes. The most common reasons behind this condition are:

  • Weak pelvic floor muscles: These muscles support the rectum and anus. Their weakness can lead to difficulty controlling gas and feces.
  • Damage to the anal sphincter muscles: Injury during childbirth, surgery, or trauma can weaken the muscles responsible for controlling bowel movements.
  • Chronic constipation: Long-term constipation can stretch and weaken the rectum and anus muscles, impairing their ability to control gas.
  • Nerve damage: Conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injuries can damage the nerves that control bowel function.
  • Rectal prolapse: When the rectum protrudes through the anus, it can disrupt the normal function of the anal sphincter muscles.
  • Chronic diseases: Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis can affect bowel function.

The key to finding the right treatment for the condition is discovering the underlying cause.

How to Diagnose Flatus Incontinence 

To diagnose flatus incontinence, your physician will ask detailed questions about your symptoms and review your medical history. Next, they may need to perform a physical examination to assess the strength of your anal sphincter muscles and check for anomalies.

The doctor may also order such tests as:

  • Anal manometry: To test how muscles and nerves around the rectum work
  • MRI and Ultrasound: To identify structure problems of your anus and rectum
  • Proctography: An X-ray to check how your body handles stool
  • Proctosigmoidoscopy: A test that checks for scars and inflammation in the rectum
  • Anal Electromyography (EMG): A test to assess the function of the anal sphincter muscles and detect nerve damage

After all the tests are ready, the doctor can create an effective course of treatment.

Treatment Options 

Depending on the cause of your condition, your healthcare provider can offer one or a combination of these options:

  • Medication: Medicine to control diarrhea and prevent constipation
  • Diet changes: A change in diet to avoid flatulence-causing food
  • Muscle training: Exercises that make pelvic muscles stronger
  • Biofeedback therapy: Training that helps get better control of bowel function
  • Hemorrhoid removal: Surgery to remove hemorrhoids that don’t allow the anus to close fully
  • Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS): A minimally invasive procedure that involves implanting a small device near the sacral nerves. This device delivers electrical impulses to the nerves, helping improve control over bowel movements.

If the condition is caused by serious nerve damage or spinal cord injuries, a doctor may recommend surgery to install an artificial bowel sphincter.

Taking Control of Your Quality of Life

If you live with flatus bowel incontinence, you need to take this condition under control. With the right approach to diagnostics and treatment, you can improve your life soon.

At Incontinence Institute, we have a team of medical professionals with extensive experience in treating flatus and fecal incontinence in Middle Tennessee. Schedule an appointment to receive a personal consultation today.

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Urge Bowel Incontinence

Urge incontinence is a type of bowel control problem in which fecal matter is discharged from the rectum despite attempts to retain it. The sudden urge to go to the restroom comes on unexpectedly, and often, the individual cannot make it to the restroom in time.

Urge incontinence is slightly more common in females due to weakening of muscles after giving birth, yet it commonly affects men too.

The type of stool passed during urge incontinence differs for each individual.Urge incontinence sufferers may involuntarily pass stool, ranging from liquid to solid. Often this occurs when an individual passes gas, and a small bit of stool accompanies the escape from the body.

Symptoms of urge incontinence include:

  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Flatulence
  • Irritated or itchy anus
  • Abdominal pain, bloating or cramping
  • Urinary incontinence

The symptoms of urge incontinence have some overlap with passive incontinence and fecal seepage, but the difference is in the root cause of the condition. It is important to see a physician to determine what is causing your incontinence. The severity of urge incontinence varies from person to person, as do the symptoms.

Many people think they only have diarrhea, but urge incontinence is a real and highly treatable condition. We can connect you with a physician who can help.

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Fecal Incontinence

Fecal incontinence, or bowel incontinence, a condition affecting both men and women, is characterized by the inability to control bowel movements.

This issue affects an estimated 1 in 3 people, but the numbers may be higher due to people failing to report it to their physicians.

Fecal incontinence affects people differently some have leaks of solid or liquid fecal matter, some cannot reach a restroom in time, and some don’t realize they need to go until it’s too late. The good news is that fecal incontinence is highly treatable.

Types of Fecal Incontinence

There are three main types of fecal incontinence:

  • Passive incontinence: Involuntary discharge of feces or gas, usually without awareness
  • Urge Bowel Incontinence: Uncontrollable discharge of gas, feces, and/or mucus despite attempts to control bowel movements
  • Rectal Leakage: Leakage of stool following a routine bowel movement

Some other types of fecal incontinence include:

  • Flatulence Incontinence: Individual feels the sensation of a full rectum but cannot determine whether the sensation is caused by the presence of flatulence or stool
  • Encopresis and Fecal Impaction: Stool in the rectum becomes impacted and runny stool behind the impaction begins to leak out

Bowel Incontinence Causes

  • Muscle damage – For women, this most often occurs during childbirth.
  • Aging Pelvic – Floor and rectal muscles can weaken with age.
  • Nerve damage – This can occur due to childbirth, diabetes, surgery, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
  • Medical conditions – Rectal prolapse, chronic constipation, or inflammatory bowel disease are just a few possible causes.
  • Other causes – There are many possible causes for bowel leakage including overuse of laxatives, radiation treatments, etc.

Fecal Incontinence Treatment

Fecal incontinence is inconvenient and can be embarrassing. It is treatable, and there are many treatment options available to you if you are suffering. Contact the Incontinence Institute today to learn how we can help treat fecal incontinence.

To learn more, contact our team or call our discreet, dedicated Medical Concierge at 615-398-6348.

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