Bowel Incontinence

What it is

The term incontinence refers to the involuntary passage of faeces with loss of control over the place of defaecation by the individual. Invariably, it is the sign of an underlying medical condition and the effects of a number of predisposing problems. It is estimated that between 1 – 10% of adults living in the community have faecal incontinence, and that up to 1% have long-term incontinence affecting the quality of life. Many people with faecal incontinence however fail to seek medical attention because of a reluctance to discuss the condition, fear of social stigma or a belief that it is not amenable to treatment.

Amended April 2008