Understanding Chronic Fecal Urgency: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Chronic Fecal Urgency

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Fecal Urgency is an inability to control bowel movements, causing fecal leaks. Causes for fecal Urgency include diarrhea, constipation, and nerve or muscle damage, sometimes due to childbirth or aging.

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Learn from others who are experiencing Chronic Fecal Urgency.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms may include urge to defecate and not being aware of the need to pass stool.

Diagnosis

Fecal urgency is diagnosed upon findings from medical history and physical examination, including a digital rectal exam. Further evaluation may include balloon expulsion test, anal manometry, anorectal sonography, proctography, colonscopy and MRI.

Treatment

Treatment may include medications such as antidiarrheal drugs (Imodium, Lomotil), and bulk laxatives (Citrucel, Metamucil). Exercise, physical therapy, biofeedback, bowel training, bulking agents, sacral nerve stimulation, vaginal balloon and radiofrequency therapy are some more treatment options. FInally, surgery may help in order to treat an underlying problem such as rectal prolapse or sphincter damage.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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