What is it about?

Anal incontinence (AI) involves involuntary loss of stool, gas or problems holding your bowels. AI is often thought of as a woman's problem and the onset of symptoms is often related to a woman's first pregnancy and childbirth. Few health care professionals ask about AI and sufferers are reluctant to seek medical advice due to embarrassment and lack of knowledge on the causes of AI and available treatment.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

More first time mothers reported anal incontinence in late pregnancy (37%) than one year after delivery (25%). Being young at first delivery predicted anal incontinence in late pregnancy and having experienced anal incontinence in late pregnancy predicted anal incontinence one year later. Women with large tears of the pelvic floor muscles after delivery were at increased risk of stool and gas leakage, whereas those with vacuum or forceps delivery had more problems with holding their bowels.

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Prevalence and predictors of anal incontinence during pregnancy and 1 year after delivery: a prospective cohort study, BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, September 2013, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.12438.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page