TY - JOUR
T1 - Fecal incontinence in women
T2 - Causes and treatment
AU - Makol, Ashima
AU - Grover, Madhusudan
AU - Whitehead, William E.
PY - 2008/9
Y1 - 2008/9
N2 - Fecal incontinence is a common problem in women, which often enforces life changes owing to embarrassment and social stigma. It is frequently not reported or diagnosed. Age, obstetric trauma, pelvic surgery, chronic diarrhea, obesity and other medical conditions, such as diabetes and stroke, increase the risk of fecal incontinence. Preventive strategies include avoiding diarrheal triggers, discouraging the routine use of episiotomies, early recognition and management of obstetric injuries and possibly pelvic floor muscle exercises after childbirth. Treatment options are available and should be discussed with the patient. These, in order of progression, are education and medications for diarrhea or constipation, supportive care, biofeedback training and surgery.
AB - Fecal incontinence is a common problem in women, which often enforces life changes owing to embarrassment and social stigma. It is frequently not reported or diagnosed. Age, obstetric trauma, pelvic surgery, chronic diarrhea, obesity and other medical conditions, such as diabetes and stroke, increase the risk of fecal incontinence. Preventive strategies include avoiding diarrheal triggers, discouraging the routine use of episiotomies, early recognition and management of obstetric injuries and possibly pelvic floor muscle exercises after childbirth. Treatment options are available and should be discussed with the patient. These, in order of progression, are education and medications for diarrhea or constipation, supportive care, biofeedback training and surgery.
KW - Biofeedback
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Fecal incontinence
KW - Health-related quality of life
KW - Prevention
KW - Treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=53749084149&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=53749084149&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2217/17455057.4.5.517
DO - 10.2217/17455057.4.5.517
M3 - Review article
C2 - 19072490
AN - SCOPUS:53749084149
SN - 1745-5057
VL - 4
SP - 517
EP - 528
JO - Women's Health
JF - Women's Health
IS - 5
ER -