STOOL INCONTINENCE
Stool incontinence: understand your symptoms and your options
Stool incontinence, also called bowel or faecal incontinence, means losing control over when or how stool passes. The causes can vary, so understanding the symptoms and getting appropriate assessment matters before considering treatment options.
Your information is treated with care.
Understand the service and your options, with no pressure.
We’re here to help you understand the service and ask questions.
COULD THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
Common signs of stool incontinence
Bowel incontinence can present in different ways. Leakage may happen without warning, or there may be a sudden need to open the bowels with too little time to reach a toilet.
Leakage with activity
Leakage may occur during activities such as coughing, laughing, sneezing or lifting.
A sudden need to urinate
A strong or sometimes difficult-to-delay need to urinate, which can lead to leakage.
A combination of both
You may experience both stress-related and urgency symptoms at different times.
When to seek advice
If symptoms are new, worsening or affecting daily life, consider speaking with your GP or another qualified healthcare professional.
What is stool incontinence?
Unexpected leakage
Bowel urgency
Soiling or staining
A range of approaches may be considered
Assessment
A focused assessment can help identify contributing factors before treatment is considered.
Bowel and pelvic-floor approaches
Specialist options
If symptoms continue after initial management, specialist continence services may consider options such as biofeedback, specialist dietary management or other appropriate interventions.
Discuss private EMS suitability
Our private electromagnetic pelvic-floor stimulation service can be explained separately, with suitability considered on an individual basis.
The appropriate management approach depends on the contributing factors, symptoms and clinical assessment.
IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING EMS
A straightforward process
Consultation
Discuss your symptoms, relevant history and any questions about the service with our Leeds team.
Suitability
We’ll discuss the information you provide and whether the service is appropriate to explore further. This does not replace medical assessment where one is needed.
Sessions
If you decide to proceed, sessions can be arranged through the private mobile service Leeds in line with the agreed service arrangements.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Book a consultation
Get clear information about stool incontinence, the private EMS service and whether it is appropriate to explore further.
SUITABILITY & SAFETY
Important information
Bowel incontinence can have different underlying causes. Suitability for electromagnetic stimulation depends on individual circumstances and the exact equipment and protocol being used. Where symptoms need medical assessment, we recommend speaking to a GP or another qualified healthcare professional.
Key considerations
Some circumstances may require medical advice before considering a private service
Device-specific safety information should be checked before treatment
Speak to a GP if your bowel symptoms need assessment
If you think you have bowel incontinence, the NHS advises speaking to a GP. Urgent advice is recommended for black or dark-red stool or bloody diarrhoea.
Your questions, answered
Clear, practical answers about stool incontinence, recognised management approaches and where our private EMS service fits.
What is stool incontinence?
Stool incontinence, also called bowel or faecal incontinence, means losing control over when or how stool passes. It can involve leakage without warning, difficulty reaching the toilet in time or soiling.
Source: NHS — Bowel incontinence
What can cause bowel incontinence?
There can be several contributing factors, including changes in stool consistency or bowel habits, constipation or diarrhoea, digestive conditions, weakness or injury affecting the muscles involved in continence, childbirth-related injury and conditions affecting nerve signalling or awareness.
Sources: NHS — Bowel incontinence · NICE CG49 — Faecal incontinence in adults: management
What treatments are commonly used for stool incontinence?
Management depends on the findings of an assessment Leeds. NICE describes initial management that can include bowel and dietary measures and attention to bowel habits, followed where needed by specialised management such as pelvic-floor muscle training, bowel retraining, specialist dietary management, biofeedback, electrical stimulation or rectal irrigation.
Source: NICE CG49 — Recommendations
Can pelvic-floor muscle training help with bowel control?
Pelvic-floor muscle training can form part of specialised management for some people who continue to have symptoms after initial management. NICE recommends that any programme is based on individual assessment and supervised by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.
Source: NICE CG49 — Recommendations
When should I speak to a GP about bowel incontinence?
The NHS advises speaking to a GP if you think you have bowel incontinence or if bowel changes such as unusual diarrhoea or constipation are not improving. Urgent advice is recommended if stool is black or dark red, or if there is bloody diarrhoea.
Source: NHS — Bowel incontinence
Where does private EMS fit for stool incontinence?
Incontinence Direct provides a private mobile electromagnetic pelvic-floor stimulation service. The service should be considered in the context of the individual’s circumstances and suitability; it is not presented as a universal or automatically first-line treatment for stool incontinence, and it does not replace appropriate medical assessment.
Further information: NICE CG49 — Faecal incontinence in adults: management
Reliable. Evidence-informed.
We base the medical information on recognised sources including NHS and NICE guidance. These sources are independent of Incontinence Direct and are provided for information; they do not endorse the service.
Incontinence Direct is an independent provider.
We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or part of the NHS or NICE.
