In this Article

• Introduction to bowel incontinence
• What causes bowel incontinence?
• What can I do if I have bowel incontinence?
• How is bowel incontinence diagnosed?
• How is bowel incontinence treated?
• What surgical procedures are used to treat bowel incontinence?
• Can bowel incontinence be prevented?
• Fecal Incontinence Glossary
• Fecal Incontinence Index

Can Bowel Incontinence Be Prevented?

Since fecal incontinence in women is often caused by anal muscle or nerve damage that occurred during childbirth, prevention is not always possible. However, if the use of forceps can be avoided during childbirth, the period of labor not prolonged and the baby not delivered too rapidly, injury to the pelvic muscles and nerves can be avoided.

Also, chronic constipation may result in incontinence. Getting sufficient water, fiber and exercise can be effective in treating constipation .

Reviewed by The Cleveland Clinic Department of Gastroenterology.
Edited by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, WebMD, April 2004.

Portions of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2004

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