Bowel incontinence / faecal incontinence / bowel urgency

Bowel incontinence, or faecal incontinence, is when you have problems controlling your bowels. Nothing causes more misery in people’s lives than bowel problems. Whether it be bowel incontinence, urgency, constipation, incomplete emptying, faecal incontinence, problems with controlling wind, rectal prolapse, hemorrhoid’s, or pain from anal fissures– and sometimes quite a few of those symptoms can occur at the same time.

Bowel incontinence can be caused by childbirth, chronic constipation, connective tissue disorders, irritable bowel syndrome and many more.

It may be triggered by your sport (the infamous ‘runners trot’) or stressful situations.

Here are a few tips how to achieve a regular happy bowel movement:

  • Position matters. When you're on the toilet, try to get your knees higher than your hips. When your knees are higher than your hips it is like unkinking a water slide, helping to fully open your bowels; a bambino stool, squatty potty can be helpful.
  • Have patience, you can’t just empty on command, take your time.
  • Do not push in the traditional way. If you strain, it is like squeezing toothpaste from the top, it makes it more difficult to empty your bowels completely. Straining is also a risk factor in the development of prolapse, if you strain regularly, talk to your GP or women’s health physio.

For more information regarding your bowels, read our helpful blog on 'How to have the perfect poo.'

If you have any bowel leakage or urgency, our specialist women’s health team can help.

Connect with us

Testimonials

  • 'The White Hart clinic is a haven of peace, support, kindness and cheerfulness'
  • 'It's calm and friendly yet really professional. I feel absolutely confident that I'm in expert hands'
  • 'I most like the range of people working there so you can have alternative ways of combating a problem. Secondly, the friendly and supportive approach'
  • 'If in pain you are fitted in as soon as possible, never too much waiting time.'
  • 'Reception staff are friendly and welcoming.'
  • 'The treatment is effective-you do not feel as if the treatment is prolonged unnecessarily.'
  • 'The staff are friendly and professional'
  • 'Very welcoming, cosy & small, relaxing atmosphere - of course most of all my therapist who has given me life changing results'
  • 'I feel the recommendations for the course of treatments and return visits are always very honest. They never take advantage'
  • 'It's like having the best clinic in Harley Street around the corner - when you're in pain that's exactly what you want. What a relief! What a comfort!'
  • 'High quality treatment, delivered in a personal way, but with great efficiency and all in a very convenient location!'
  • 'Packed full of friendliness and expertise'
  • 'Friendly and efficient place that helps repair me when things are not working properly!'
  • 'Friendly, professional and broad ranging'

Find us

Map

Richmond, Mortlake, Barnes, Putney.