Bowel Incontinence
Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source
MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.
Bowel incontinence is the inability to control your bowels. When you feel the urge to have a bowel movement, you may not be able to hold it until you get to a toilet. Millions of Americans have this problem. It affects people of all ages - children and adults. It is more common in women and older adults. It is not a normal part of aging.
Causes include:
- Constipation
- Damage to muscles or nerves of the anus and rectum
- Diarrhea
- Pelvic floor disorders
Treatments include changes in diet, medicines, bowel training, or surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Symptoms, tests and care options
Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.
- Bowel Retraining: Strategies for Establishing Bowel Control · International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Incontinence Treatment: Biofeedback · International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Incontinence Treatment: Dietary Tips · International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Stool Diary · National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Symptoms of Incontinence · International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
Questions for your care team
General prompts to help prepare for your appointment.
- How does this information apply to my situation?
- Which symptoms or results need evaluation?
- Which tests are useful, and what can they tell us?
- What care options, benefits, and risks should we discuss?
- When should I seek urgent help, and whom should I call?
- When is follow-up, and how will we know whether the plan is working?
For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number.
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