Fecal Incontinence

Fecal Incontinence: Restoring Control

At the Intimate Wellness Institute of Virginia, we understand that fecal incontinence – the inability to control your bowel movements – is a devastating, profoundly personal and often isolating condition. The anxiety, embarrassment, and impact on your daily freedom can be overwhelming. We want to begin by saying: you are not alone, and this is not something you have to live with.

We have created a space of absolute safety, discretion, and compassion to address this issue. As the region’s leading experts in pelvic floor disorders, Dr. Guerette and the IWI team are here to provide not just world-class medical solutions, but the understanding and support you need to restore your control, your dignity, and your confidence.

Understanding Fecal Incontinence

What is Fecal Incontinence?

Fecal incontinence (or anal incontinence) is the accidental passing of stool or mucus from your rectum. It can manifest in several ways:

• Stool leaks out when you are passing gas.
• Leakage occurs during physical exertion, like exercise or lifting.
• You feel a sudden, strong urge to go but cannot make it to the bathroom in time.
• You notice soiling in your underwear even after a normal bowel movement.
• There is a complete loss of bowel control.

Why Is This Happening?

Controlling your bowels is a complex process involving muscles, nerves, and tissue health. Incontinence occurs when one or more parts of this system are compromised. The most common causes include:

Muscle or Nerve Damage

Often a result of a difficult vaginal childbirth (especially with forceps or an episiotomy), a previous anal surgery, or chronic straining from constipation. Certain health conditions like diabetes, MS, or stroke can also affect nerve function.

Aging and Menopause

The muscles in the rectum and anus naturally weaken over time, and the loss of estrogen can further affect tissue integrity.

Chronic Bowel Issues

Frequent, severe diarrhea or constipation can exhaust and weaken the rectum and anal sphincter muscles.

Other Pelvic Conditions

Fecal incontinence is often related to other pelvic floor disorders, such as rectal prolapse or rectocele (when the rectum bulges into the vagina).

Finding Answers: Your Path to an Accurate Diagnosis

The first step to a solution is a precise diagnosis. This begins with a respectful, confidential conversation. We understand you may feel uncomfortable talking about this, but our team is trained to make you feel at ease.

Dr. Guerette will conduct a thorough evaluation, including a gentle physical exam. To get a complete picture of why you are experiencing incontinence, we may use specialized diagnostic tools.

These are not just tests; they are advanced methods that allow us to see precisely how your muscles and nerves are functioning. This expert-level diagnosis is critical to designing a treatment plan that will actually work for you.

A Spectrum of Solutions: Your IWI Treatment Plan

Depending on the cause and severity of your condition, we will create a personalized treatment plan that may include one or more of the following highly effective approaches.

A. Foundational Therapies

For many, significant improvement begins with these non-surgical strategies:

• Dietary Guidance: We can help you identify trigger foods and incorporate foods that naturally thicken the stool, making it easier to control.
• Bowel Training & Biofeedback: Our expert IWI therapists can help you establish a regular pattern for bowel movements. They may also use biofeedback, a technique that helps you “re-train” and strengthen your pelvic floor and sphincter muscles with targeted exercises.
• Emsella: Emsella is an FDA-cleared medical treatment specifically designed to combat incontinence and strengthen a weakened pelvic floor. It uses focused electromagnetic energy to stimulate the deep muscles of the pelvic floor, effectively restoring neuromuscular control.

B. Advanced and Surgical Treatments

When foundational therapies are not enough, Dr. Guerette and IWI offer the most advanced, state-of-the-art procedures available.

Sphincteroplasty (Anal Sphincter Muscle Repair)

For incontinence caused by a tear or damage to the anal sphincter muscles (a common result of childbirth), this surgical procedure meticulously repairs and strengthens the muscle, resulting in a tighter anal opening and restored control. Dr. Guerette has successfully performed thousands of these delicate procedures.

Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS): Restoring Communication

For many, incontinence is a nerve signal issue. SNS is a revolutionary therapy that works like a “pacemaker for the bowel.” Dr. Guerette implants a small device under the skin that sends mild electrical pulses to the sacral nerves, restoring the proper communication between your brain and your bowel. This restores control in a way that other treatments cannot. The process begins with a simple, in-office test to ensure it will be successful for you. Dr. Guerette and the IWI team are the most experienced implanters of SNS devices in the Mid-Atlantic.

Colostomy

This procedure is rarely needed and is considered only when all other options have been exhausted for the most severe cases.

The IWI Promise: Expertise and Empathy in Harmony

Living with fecal incontinence can feel like a silent struggle, but your journey to reclaiming your life starts here. We are proud to offer the most comprehensive and technologically advanced solutions for this condition in our Virginia center. We combine our profound understanding of the emotional toll of this condition with the highest level of specialized medical and surgical expertise to restore not just your function, but your dignity.

Contact The Intimate Wellness Institute of Virginia today to schedule your private, compassionate consultation with Dr. Guerette. Let us help you restore your confidence and achieve your personal wellness goals.