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You might have bowel incontinence if you cannot control when you poo. Symptoms of bowel incontinence include:
Try not to be embarrassed. The doctor will be used to talking about these symptoms.
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
If a GP thinks you might have bowel incontinence they:
They might refer you to a specialist for more tests such as:
The treatment you have for bowel incontinence will depend on what's causing your symptoms and how severe they are.
A GP might recommend:
If these things do not help, they might refer you to a specialist service.
A specialist incontinence service can:
If these things do not help, you might be referred for surgery.
You may have surgery if other treatments have not helped or your symptoms are severe.
Surgery can include:
The surgeon will explain the risks and benefits of the operation, and what will happen.
The GP or specialist may recommend lifestyle changes that can help manage bowel incontinence.
try changing the position you sit in while pooing, such as using a squatting position – put your feet on a footstool while you sit on the toilet, so your knees are higher than your hips, and lean forward slightly
try to poo at regular times, such as after meals
keep a diary of your symptoms and what you eat and drink – you may notice some things make your bowel incontinence worse, such as caffeine, alcohol, spicy food or too much fibre
plan an easy route to the toilet at home and when you're out
wear clothing that's easy to get off if you need to use the toilet in a rush
practise any exercises your doctor has recommended for your pelvic floor or muscles around your bottom
eat a balanced diet
quit smoking – nicotine can affect how quickly food moves through your digestive system
do not cut lots of foods and drinks from your diet at once – try one thing at a time to see if it helps your symptoms
try not to strain when you poo
RADAR keys unlock lots of accessible public toilets in places like cafés, restaurants and shopping centres.
It might help to get one so you can easily access a toilet when you're in public. You can usually get one from a charity.
Having bowel incontinence can affect your mental health. It can help to talk about how you're feeling.
You can get talking therapies for free on the NHS. These services can help you find ways to cope.
Help is available in person, by video, over the phone or as an online course.
There are also national charities that can offer support and information about bowel incontinence.
Information and support for people with bladder and bowel conditions.
Information and support for people with bladder and bowel conditions.
Bowel incontinence can happen for lots of reasons and is common. Try not to be embarrassed.
You may get it for reasons such as if you:
It can be a result of more than one of these things.
Children can also get bowel incontinence. Sometimes they avoid going to the toilet, which means their poo hardens and runny poo leaks out, or they do not make it to the toilet in time.
