Though an embarrassing problem, anal leakage isn’t something you should keep to yourself, especially if it’s an ongoing issue that’s causing emotional distress. The sooner you get help for your anal leakage, the sooner you get relief.

At Paonessa Colon and Rectal Surgery, our board-certified general surgeon and proctologist, Dr. Nina J. Paonessa, specializes in diagnosing and treating anal leakage, medically known as fecal incontinence. 

Though a skilled surgeon, she takes a conservative approach to care and offers both medical and surgical treatment options to address the underlying cause of your anal leakage. 

About anal leakage

Anal leakage is an embarrassing problem that may occur when passing gas or during physical activity. No matter the situation, you’re not alone if you find the topic hard to discuss, even with your doctor. But fecal incontinence is a common problem, affecting more than 5 million people in the United States. 

Ignoring your anal leakage won’t improve the underlying problem and may affect your physical, emotional, and social well-being. But there are many effective treatments for anal leakage that can help you regain control over your bowel function and improve your quality of life. 

Many causes of anal leakage

There are many potential reasons you may be experiencing anal leakage. For many, fecal incontinence occurs from a multitude of causes. 

Some of the most common causes of anal leakage include:

• Chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Rectal prolapse
• Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
• Nerve damage
• Physical inactivity

Your anal leakage may also develop from weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles. These muscles support your bowel and bladder, as well as your ability to control your bowel habits. When these muscles are weak or damaged, they may not be able to help you control your bowel movements.

Many women experience urinary and bowel incontinence due to damage to their pelvic floor muscles after pregnancy or childbirth. 

Resolving your anal leakage

We understand how hard it may be for you to seek help for your anal leakage, but ignoring the symptom won’t make things better. And, treatment for your loss of bowel control may be a lot simpler than you think.

As noted, we take a conservative approach when helping our patients with fecal incontinence. After Dr. Paonessa conducts an evaluation to fully understand the cause of your anal leakage, she develops a personalized treatment plan that helps you regain control over your bowels.

Some of the typical treatment options we recommend include:

• Diet modification
• Nutritional supplements
• Bowel training
• A home exercise program
• Physical therapy
• Biofeedback
• Medication

If our conservative treatments fail to help you regain control over your bowel habits, then we discuss surgical options. However, we rarely perform surgery to fix anal leakage. 

Don’t ignore your anal leakage. Call our nearest office in Brielle or Manahawkin, New Jersey, or book an appointment online today.