Fellowship-Trained Urogynecologist
Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Green Bay, Wisconsin
✓ Medically reviewed May 15, 2026
When should I see a specialist for fecal incontinence?
If accidental bowel leakage is affecting your daily life, activities, or how you feel, it’s time to see a specialist. About 9% of adult women have fecal incontinence at least monthly, yet fewer than 30% ever bring it up with a doctor. Many people wait years because of embarrassment or the belief that nothing can be done. That’s not true. We have good treatments, and getting help sooner usually means better results.
Signs it’s time to see a specialist
- Leakage happens more than occasionally
- You wear pads or protective garments for bowel leakage
- You avoid social activities, travel, or exercise because of fear of accidents
- You plan your life around bathroom access
- Over-the-counter remedies aren’t providing adequate control
- You also have urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse
Many of the patients I see have been dealing with this for years before they come in. There are many ways to help, and most people feel better once they have a plan.
What to expect at your first visit
A specialist evaluation typically includes:
- A detailed history covering how often leakage happens, what triggers it, your diet, and your birth history
- A physical exam to check your pelvic floor and sphincter function
- A conversation about whether any testing is needed to understand the cause
You don’t need testing to start treatment. The visit is straightforward and professional. We see this condition every day.
Why a urogynecologist?
Fecal incontinence frequently shows up alongside other pelvic floor conditions. About half of women with bowel leakage also have urinary incontinence. Common overlaps include:
- Urinary incontinence, since both can come from pelvic floor weakness
- Pelvic organ prolapse, where a bulge in the back wall of the vagina (rectocele) can trap stool and contribute to bowel symptoms
- Pelvic floor muscle problems, because the same muscles control your bladder and bowel
A urogynecologist completes extra fellowship training focused on the pelvic floor. I can evaluate and treat all of these conditions together, rather than sending you to separate specialists for each one.
Treatments that work
Most women see real improvement with treatment. We’ll talk through the options together and decide what makes sense for you. Common approaches include:
- Dietary changes to improve stool consistency
- Fiber supplements or medications like loperamide
- Pelvic floor physical therapy, which goes beyond Kegels to include strength, coordination, relaxation, and training the muscles around your hips, core, and pelvic floor. We have in-office pelvic floor physical therapists who work closely with me.
- Sacral neuromodulation (sometimes called a “bowel pacemaker”), a small implanted device that sends gentle signals to the nerves controlling your bowel. It’s the first-line surgical option for fecal incontinence. The battery lasts 10 to 15 years with newer rechargeable devices. Over 80% of patients see at least a 50% reduction in leakage episodes.
Sphincter repair surgery is rarely recommended today. Sacral neuromodulation has largely replaced it because results are better and last longer, even in women who have a sphincter tear.
Fecal incontinence is one of the most undertreated conditions I see. Not because we lack treatments, but because people don’t come in. If this is affecting your life, please make the appointment.
References
- Brown HW, Dyer KY, Rogers RG. Management of fecal incontinence. Obstet Gynecol. 2020. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004054
- Meyer I, Richter HE. Impact of fecal incontinence and its treatment on quality of life in women. Womens Health (Lond). 2015. doi:10.2217/whe.14.66
- Meyer I, Richter HE. Accidental bowel leakage/fecal incontinence: evidence-based management. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2021.05.003
- Goldman HB, Lloyd JC, Noblett KL, et al. International Continence Society best practice statement for use of sacral neuromodulation. Neurourol Urodyn. 2018. doi:10.1002/nau.23596
- Wallace SL, Miller LD, Mishra K. Pelvic floor physical therapy in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction in women. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2019. doi:10.1097/GCO.0000000000000584
- Jelovsek JE, Markland AD, Whitehead WE, et al. Controlling anal incontinence in women by performing anal exercises with biofeedback or loperamide (CAPABLe). Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019. doi:10.1016/S2468-1253(19)30193-1
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