Feces are what is left after your digestive system (stomach, small and large intestine) absorbs nutrients and fluids from what you eat and drink. With fecal incontinence, a person has trouble controlling their bowel movements.
Fecal incontinence is not as common as urinary incontinence, but it does increase in frequency with aging. Older adults and women are more likely to have this problem. Women may get fecal incontinence if they had a difficult childbirth.
Although fecal incontinence can be embarrassing, talking about it with your health care provider is important because treatments are available.
Last Updated December 2022