“Bowel incontinence occurs when the loss of control of gas,
liquid stool, or solid stool is enough to cause discomfort
or distress. Incontinence is a sign that…”.1
Umbrella
What may the Bowel Incontinence Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Accidental Bowel Leakage
- Anal Incontinence
- Bowel Continence
- Bowel Control Problems
- Bowel Incontinence
- Faecal/Fecal Incontinence
- Incontinence (Bowel/Faecal/Fecal)
- Poor Bowel Control
Incontinence
What is incontinence?
DotS the definition of incontinence may vary. The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder’s (IFFGD) definition is:
Bowel Incontinence
What is bowel incontinence?
DotS the definition of bowel incontinence may vary. The IFFGD’s definition is:
Fecal Incontinence
What is fecal incontinence?
DotS the definition of fecal incontinence may vary. In Fecal Incontinence: Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definitions is explain:
Cause
What are common causes of fecal incontinence?
In Fecal Incontinence: Overview the Mayo Clinic explain:
Menopause
Is there an association between bowel incontinence and menopause?
In Women: Menopause the Continence Foundation of Australia note:

Coping
What can doing help cope with bowel incontinence?
In Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence): Treatment of Fecal Incontinence – How Do I Cope With My Fecal Incontinence? the NIDDK explain:
- Using the toilet before leaving home
- Carrying a bag with cleanup supplies and a change of clothes when leaving the house
- Finding public restrooms before one is needed
- Wearing absorbent pads inside your underwear
- Wearing disposable underwear
- Using fecal deodorants—over-the-counter pills that reduce the smell of stool and gas
- Taking over-the-counter medicines to help prevent diarrhea before eating in restaurants or at social gatherings”.7
Treatment
What is it important to remember about treatment for bowel incontinence?
In Seeking Advice and Treatment the (Scottish) NHS Inform elaborate on:
- Bowel incontinence isn’t something to be ashamed of – it’s simply a medical problem that’s no different from diabetes or asthma
- It can be treated – there’s a wide range of successful treatments
- Bowel incontinence isn’t a normal part of ageing
- It won’t usually go away on its own – most people need treatment for the condition”.8
Helpline
May some Countries have a national continence/incontinence Helpline?
Yes. Your Country may have a Helpline similar to the Continence Foundation of Australia’s Continence Helpline.
Toilet Maps, Cards or Apps
May some Countries have toilet maps, cards or Apps?
Your Country may have a toilet map similar to Australia’s National Public Toilet Map: About the Toilet Map:
Or your Country may have a card or App similar to the (United Kingdom) Bladder & Bowel Community’s (B&B) FREE Just Can’t Wait Toilet Card.
Health Care Provider
What if I think I have bowel incontinence?
If you think you have bowel incontinence, it may be in your best interest to talk to your health care provider about this.
In Bowel Problems, Conditions & Symptoms the B&B explain:
The Continence Foundation of Australia encourage us to seek help and explain:
In Bowel Incontinence: Overview – When To Get Medical Advice the (United Kingdom) NHS also note:
Remember that:
- It’s not something to be ashamed of
- It’s common and GPs are used to seeing people with it
- It’s not something you have to put up with
- It will probably not get better on its own
- It can be treated”.12
Who is a GP?
DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Bowel Incontinence?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Bowel Incontinence?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- About Incontinence
- About Continence: Understanding Incontinence – What Is Incontinence?
- Aboutincontinence.org [International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders]
- Accidental Bowel Leakage
- Bladder & Bowel
- Bladderandbowel.org [United Kingdom Bladder and Bowel Community]
- Bowel Control
- Bowel Control Problems [Fecal Incontinence]
- Bowel Control Problems [Fecal Incontinence]: Definition & Facts of Fecal Incontinence
- Bowel Control Problems [Fecal Incontinence]: Diagnosis of Fecal Incontinence – How Do Doctors Diagnose Fecal Incontinence? Medical History: Stool Diary
- Bowel Control Problems [Fecal Incontinence]: Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Fecal Incontinence – What Should I Avoid Eating If I Have Fecal Incontinence? Keeping A Food Diary
- Bowel Control: Symptoms & Types
- Bowel Health
- Bowel Health
- Bowel Incontinence
- Bowel Incontinence
- Bowel Incontinence
- Bowel Incontinence [+ Video]
- Bowel Incontinence: Treating Bowel Incontinence
- Bowel Incontinence: Treatment
- Bowel Problems, Conditions & Symptoms
- Bowel Retraining
- Bristol Stool Chart
- Bristol Stool Form Scale
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: Incontinence
- Constipation
- Constipation
- Constipation
- Continence Health: Bowel
- Continence Organisations Worldwide
- Continence.org.au [Continence Foundation of Australia]
- Continencecentral.org [Continence Central: Products]
- Continenceproductadvisor.org [Continence Product Advisor]
- Diarrhoea and Vomiting
- Diet & Treatments
- Dietary Fiber
- Fecal Bowel Incontinence
- Faecal Incontinence
- Fecal Incontinence
- Fecal Incontinence: Diagnosis & Treatment
- Fecal Incontinence: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
- Female Products
- Finding A Doctor
- Fistula
- Free Just Can’t Wait Toilet Card
- GI Disorders: Gastrointestinal (GI) Functional and Motility Disorders
- Glossary
- Healthy Living
- Incontinence Conditions From A – Z
- Incontinence Diaries: Using A Bladder Diary or Bowel Diary
- Incontinence – Lifting the Lid on Leakage
- Information on Incontinence In English
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Kegel Exercises
- Life With Incontinence: Continence Products
- Life With Incontinence: Sexuality
- Managing Your Condition
- Medical Definitions
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Men’s Conditions
- Nafc.org [National Association for Continence, United States]
- Nafc.org [National Association for Continence, United States]: Find A Specialist
- Nafc.org/diet-and-exercise/ [National Association for Continence, United States]: Diet and Exercise
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Health Information
- Other Languages: Incontinence Information In Other Languages
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Products
- Products To Treat Adult Incontinence
- Resources
- Resources for Caregivers
- Sex & Relationships
- Symptoms & Causes
- Symptoms of Incontinence [Bowel Incontinence]
- Talking To Your Doctor
- The Digestive System
- Tips & Daily Living
- Tips on Finding A Doctor
- Voices for PFD [Pelvic Floor Disorders]
- Watch Our FAQ Videos Series – Video Series: Continence FAQs – FAQ #3: What About Bowel Leakage?
- What Could It Be?
- What Is Incontinence?
- Women
- Women: Menopause – Menopause and Continence
- Women: Menopause – Symptoms
- Women: Pelvic Floor Muscles In Women [+ Video: Female Pelvic Floor Muscle – 3D Animation]
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Women: Menopause – Symptoms. Last Updated: 15 July 2021. Last Reviewed: 01 April 2020. Continence Foundation of Australia https://www.continence.org.au/who-it-affects/women/menopause Accessed: 15 November 2023
- What Is Incontinence? International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders https://aboutincontinence.org/what-is-incontinence.html Accessed: 15 November 2023
- What Is Incontinence? International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders https://aboutincontinence.org/what-is-incontinence.html Accessed: 15 November 2023
- Fecal Incontinence: Overview. 03 November 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fecal-incontinence/symptoms-causes/syc-20351397 Accessed: 15 November 2023
- Fecal Incontinence: Overview. 03 November 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fecal-incontinence/symptoms-causes/syc-20351397 Accessed: 15 November 2023
- Women: Menopause. Last Updated: 15 July 2021. Last Reviewed: 01 April 2020. Continence Foundation of Australia https://www.continence.org.au/who-it-affects/women/menopause Accessed: 15 November 2023
- Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence): Treatment of Fecal Incontinence – How Do I Cope With Fecal Incontinence? July 2017. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/bowel-control-problems-fecal-incontinence/treatment Accessed: 15 November 2023
- Seeking Advice and Treatment. Last Updated 29 May 2023. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/bowel-incontinence Accessed: 15 November 2023
- National Public Toilet Map: About the Toilet Map. National Continence Program https://toiletmap.gov.au/about Accessed: 15 November 2023
- Bowel Problems, Conditions & Symptoms. Bladder & Bowel Community https://www.bladderandbowel.org/bowel/bowel-problems/ Accessed: 15 November 2023
- Women: Menopause – Symptoms. Last Updated: 15 July 2021. Last Reviewed: 01 April 2020. Continence Foundation of Australia https://www.continence.org.au/who-it-affects/women/menopause Accessed: 15 November 2023
- Bowel Incontinence: Overview – When To Get Medical Advice. Page Last Reviewed: 04 March 2021. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-incontinence/#when-to-get-medical-advice Accessed: 15 November 2023