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Mayo Clinic gastroenterologists and colon and rectal surgeons are renowned internationally for their skills and experience in diagnosing and treating fecal incontinence. Mayo specialists treat more than 1,200 patients each year for this condition, one of the largest practices in the United States.
Specialists work together to determine the correct diagnosis. They have access to the latest tests necessary to determine the cause of fecal incontinence, including tests developed at Mayo Clinic. Read more about fecal incontinence diagnosis.
Mayo Clinic offers a spectrum of treatment options, from simple diet changes to surgical repair of sphincter muscles. Patients who choose Mayo Clinic for care can expect efficient and experienced care providers. In most cases, patients are diagnosed and treatment begun, including surgery if necessary, in three to four days. Read more about fecal incontinence treatment options.
Fecal incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool (feces) to leak unexpectedly from the rectum. Also called bowel incontinence, fecal incontinence can range from occasional stool leakage while passing gas to complete loss of bowel control.
Common causes of fecal incontinence include constipation, diarrhea, and muscle or nerve damage. The condition may be associated with aging and childbirth. Fecal incontinence can cause people to stay at home and withdraw from social events because an embarrassing accident. An estimated 5.5 million Americans, more commonly older people and women, suffer from fecal incontinence.
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Terri Gardner, 46, enjoys the freedom of riding, but her time in the saddle led to incontinence, robbing her of the very activity she held dear.
Read Terri's story.
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The Enteric Neuroscience Program is composed of a group of scientists and physicians studing the biology of the neuromuscular system of the gastrointestinal tract.
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