Causes and Risk Factors of Bowel Incontinence
Bowel incontinence can stem from a variety of causes, often involving damage or dysfunction in the muscles or nerves responsible for bowel control. In some cases, more than one factor may contribute. Learn more about the causes and risk factors of bowel incontinence below.
9 Common Causes and Risk Factors of Bowel Incontinence
1. Muscle damage
- Injury to the anal sphincter muscles, which control the opening and closing of the anus.
- Common after:
- Childbirth (especially with forceps use or episiotomy)
- Anal surgery
- Trauma or injury to the pelvic area
2. Nerve damage
- Nerves controlling the rectum and anal sphincter can be damaged by:
- Spinal cord injury
- Diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
- Chronic straining from constipation
3. Rectal issues
- Conditions like rectal prolapse (where the rectum slips out of place) or rectocele (bulging of the rectum into the vagina) may impair function.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), radiation therapy, or tumours can also weaken control.
4. Chronic diarrhoea or constipation
- Diarrhoea makes stool harder to control.
- Long-term constipation may cause overflow incontinence, where soft stool leaks around a hard mass.
5. Age-related weakening
- Muscle and nerve tone decline with age, making older adults more susceptible.
6. Cognitive or mobility impairments
- Conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s, or severe arthritis may limit one’s ability to recognise the urge or reach a toilet in time.
7. Surgery or radiation
- Abdominal or pelvic surgeries, including prostate or bowel operations, may damage nerves or structures involved in bowel control.
8. Lifestyle and socio-economic factors
- In South Africa, delayed medical care, lack of pelvic health education, and untreated childbirth injuries increase the risk in both rural and urban populations.
Causes and Risk Factors of Bowel Incontinence
Identifying the cause of bowel incontinence is the first step toward targeted, effective treatment.
👉 [Next: Diagnosis and Evaluation of Bowel Incontinence]
