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There are many causes of fecal incontinence, and in most people, is a combination of two or more factors that often lead to fecal incontinence. While it can be seen with things such as diarrhea or just general age-related factors, we can also see it with things like fecal impaction, where stool is hard and difficult to pass. So only leakage of the watery contents occurs. Another category of causes of fecal incontinence include pelvic or obstetric kind of injuries in which things such as forceps deliveries or pelvic floor injuries can result in fecal incontinence. Finally, we also see fecal incontinence occur in things such as nerve damage related to spinal cord injuries or the pudendal nerve, which is a nerve in the pelvic area. Diet, medications can also be a cause of fecal incontinence. We see things such as lactose intolerance in people cause diarrhea, which then can also lead to fecal incontinence. Many of the causes can be treated. However if you have difficulty in treating fecal incontinence, it can also lead to psychosocial distress. People can have fear of leaving their house or engaging normal activities. Thus, it’s really important to see a doctor and see how we can best improve the symptoms of fecal incontinence.
