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Faecal incontinence

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Faecal (anal) incontinence is when you have accidental leakage of solid or liquid poo (faeces) or you are unable to control passing wind.

Faecal incontinence affects one in 25 (or four per cent of) women who have given birth. This can have a big impact on your quality of life. Many women find it so embarrassing that they don’t seek medical care; however, there are a range of treatments that can help you.

You are most likely to have faecal incontinence if you’ve given birth. This is because pushing in labour can damage the nerves and rings of muscles (called your anal sphincter) that help control the opening and closing of your bowels.

Other reasons why you might have faecal incontinence are:

  • constipation, with frequent straining to empty your bowels completely
  • a prolapse of your back passage (or rectum) where it ‘drops down’ through your bottom hole (or anus) and can cause soiling.
  • an inflammatory bowel disease, e.g. Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s disease
  • a fistula or haemorrhoids, or surgery in the past to correct one of these problems
  • a condition that affects your brain’s ability to send messages to your bowel, like Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or a stroke.
Faecal incontinence
Mercy Hospital for Women
163 Studley Road
Heidelberg Victoria 3084

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Overview

Faecal incontinence can be a problem, together with leakage from the bladder and prolapse from the vagina. If this is the case, your doctor will send you to our urogynaecological clinic for assessment and treatment.

Your GP will decide with you if it is best to see the urogynaecology team or if it is better to be seen by a bowel specialist (colorectal surgeon or gastroenterologist).

Getting here

Find us at:

Mercy Hospital for Women
163 Studley Road
Heidelberg Victoria 3084

For more information on getting here, visit Mercy Hospital for Women .

For health professionals

1) For patients with obstetrics anal sphincter injury, please use perineal clinic guidelines and referral form.

2) For all other patients with urogynaecological issues and faecal incontinence, please refer to Urogynaecology Clinic.

3) For women with isolated faecal incontinence, please refer to appropriate Gastroenterology or Colorectal service.

What/when you should refer to us

1) For patients with obstetrics anal sphincter injury, please use perineal clinic guidelines and referral form.

2) For all other patients with urogynaecological issues and faecal incontinence, please refer to Urogynaecology Clinic.

What/when you should not refer to us

For women with isolated faecal incontinence, please refer to the appropriate Gastroenterology or Colorectal service.

Faecal incontinence

163 Studley Road
Heidelberg Victoria 3084

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