Bowel Incontinence, which is commonly referred to by the medical community as Fecal Incontinence, is a medical condition that has several variances.  Bowel incontinence is defined as the loss of bowel function, resulting in the expulsion of the fecal matter.  Fecal incontinence can present as either a mild form or a more severe form.  The mild form of fecal incontinence consists of occasional bowel control loss, usually during flatulence.  The more severe form of fecal incontinence is when there is a complete loss of bowel control and complete bowel movements are expelled without the individual’s capability to prevent it.

There are some relatively common, temporary causes of bowel incontinence as well as some more severe, irreversible causes of bowel incontinence.  Temporary causes of bowel incontinence include diarrhea or food poisoning. Spinal cord damage is one of the leading causes of irreversible fecal incontinence.   Fecal incontinence is not always an easy topic to discuss with other people.  It can be quite embarrassing, to the extent that the individual does not seek evaluation by a health care provider.  It is essential to remember that healthcare providers are trained to evaluate patient’s medical conditions and symptoms.  Medical professionals help with finding the underlying cause behind what is causing the incontinence.  Healthcare providers do not judge you; they are there to take your concerns seriously and collaborate with you to determine an appropriate treatment plan to address these unwanted symptoms.