The digestive system is essentially a long, continuous tube that runs all the way from the mouth to the anus. The digestive tract absorbs nutrients from the food we eat and eliminates the waste products we can’t use.

The bowel, or intestine, is the lower part of the digestive system – it is divided into the small intestine and the large intestine (colon, rectum and anus). The main function of the small intestine is to absorbs nutrients released from the food digested in the stomach. The large intestine absorbs water from food and forms semi-solid and solid food waste into faeces, which are eliminated from the body through the anus.

Food is moved along the digestive system by a wave of involuntary contractions (peristalsis). The food is temporarily stored in the rectum, and when the rectum becomes full, stretch receptors in its wall send signals to the brain resulting in the urge to defecate. The two anal sphincters relax and allow faeces to pass through the anus and out of the body. 

Bowel problems
Faecal incontinence is the involuntary leakage of stool or flatus (wind). There are different conditions which may lead to faecal incontinence.

Constipation is a symptom not a diagnosis. The symptoms vary from person to person but are often characterised by decreased bowel movements and straining at defecation. Faeces may also become hard and painful to pass, causing and bloating and discomfort.  

You can suffer from both constipation and faecal incontinence at the same time, since fluids can bypass the hard stool. Constipation and faecal incontinence can often result in spending an excessive amount of time on the toilet.

How common is faecal incontinence and constipation?
Although the exact number of people affected by faecal incontinence is unknown (many people never visit a healthcare professional or discuss their symptoms), faecal incontinence is more common than you might think.

Studies suggest that approximately 2% of the adult population have daily or weekly faecal incontinence episodes. The prevalence for adults over 65 years is 7% and in retirement homes it is up to 33% of the elderly. The exact number of people affected by constipation is unknown. Studies indicate that up to 20% of the population have problems with constipation.