fecal incontinence

medical disorder

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Fecal incontinence is the inability to control the excretion of feces. This can occur due to spinal or bodily injuries, old age, extreme fear, or severe diarrhea. It can also result from neurological impairment caused by conditions such as diabetes, stroke, or multiple sclerosis.12

The process of defecation involves muscular contractions that move waste through the colon to the rectum. When the rectum fills, it stimulates nerves that create the urge to defecate. Control over this process relies on the function of pelvic muscles and nerves.2

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defecation
Incontinence—the loss of control over the evacuative process—can develop with age; it may also result from surgical, obstetric, spinal, or other bodily injuries or with neurological impairment resulting from diabetes, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Defecation may also be influenced by pain, fear, temperature elevation, and…
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Incontinence—the loss of control over the evacuative process—can develop with age; it may also result from surgical, obstetric, spinal, or other bodily injuries or with neurological impairment resulting from diabetes, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. Defecation may also be influenced by pain, fear, temperature elevation, and…
Read More