What Causes Bowel Leakage?

Following are some causes of bowel leakage:

• Constipation or Diarrhea frequently occurs: The rectum and anus muscles deteriorate due to these disorders. The capacity of these muscles to keep feces within the body also deteriorates.

• Damage to the Muscles: Muscle injury may result when medical professionals must use forceps or make a minor incision (an episiotomy) to create a bigger hole during a complicated vaginal delivery. Anal or rectal surgery might potentially result in muscle injury.

• Age: With time, the rectum and anus muscles deteriorate naturally. Age also causes the surrounding pelvic components to sag. This exacerbates the overall weakness in that body part, making it more difficult to regulate one’s stools.

• Nerve Damage: Incontinence may occur if the nerves that regulate the rectum and anus muscles’ capacity to contract are compromised. Additionally, if the “rectal sensation” controlling nerves are destroyed, it might result in incontinence.
  Constipation, anal surgery, a difficult vaginal birth, certain medical disorders, or constipation all increase the risk of nerve injury.

• Rectum’s Inability to Stretch: Extra stool that accumulates may seep out if the rectum’s muscles are not as elastic as they should be. The capacity of the rectum to stretch may also be impacted by inflammatory Bowel Diseases (like Crohn’s disease). The rectus muscles might also tighten due to surgical and radiation treatment scars.

• Additional Medical Problems: Fecal incontinence may be caused by several medical problems, including rectal prolapse (in which the rectum protrudes into the anus) and rectocele (in which the rectum presses into the vagina), as well as chronic constipation, in which feces seep around a huge stoolball.

• Other Causes: The capacity to regulate feces may be impacted by laxative misuse, radiation therapy, certain neurological system and congenital (inherited) disorders, inflammation (swelling), and inflammatory bowel disorder.

The ability to control bowel movements can be influenced by factors such as laxative overuse, radiation therapy, specific neurological and congenital conditions, inflammation, and inflammatory bowel disease.

For expert guidance on these concerns, consult Dr. Aditya Kulkarni at Oasis Clinic, a distinguished Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgeon in Pune. Your well-being is our priority.

Is it a Sign of Cancer?

A Change in stool or bowel movements is one of the initial indicators of “Colon Cancer” that is commonly overlooked

Unexpected changes in the stool’s consistency,color, or movement may warrant greater worry than any other symptom, especially if they continue or worsen.