Verdict: FALSE.
Getting old doesn’t mean losing control
Fecal incontinence occurs when the system that holds stools no longer works properly. Several mechanisms may be involved: damage to the sphincter muscles, a disorder of nervous control or a reduction in the sensitivity of the rectum.
Aging can actually weaken the sphincter muscles and decrease rectal sensitivity. But it alone is not enough to explain incontinence. Other situations may occur: difficult childbirth, anal surgery, chronic constipation with accumulation of stools or even certain neurological disorders.
A leak, even occasional, deserves to be taken seriously
Losing control of your bowel movements, even occasionally, is not inevitable. When leaks become frequent, involve solid stools or are accompanied by pain or bleeding, a consultation is necessary.
And above all, there is no reason to be ashamed. The problem can be very disabling on a daily basis, but solutions exist, in particular perineal rehabilitation, presented as very effective in the book. Medical treatments or, in the most severe situations, surgical intervention may also be considered.
What to remember
Fecal incontinence is not a normal consequence of aging. It is a symptom that deserves to be reported, because its cause can be investigated and its treatment can allow you to return to a much more serene life.
Doctor Kierzek’s advice
Fecal incontinence should be discussed with your treating physician, who will look for a cause and may refer you to a gastroenterologist or proctologist. Treatment often exists, combining adaptation of transit and diet, treatment of diarrhea or constipation, and above all perineal rehabilitation with a specialized physiotherapist.