Stains on My Underwear: Is It Bowel Incontinence?
Article contributed by:
Dr Lim Jit Fong,
Senior Consultant, Director, Pelvic Floor Disorder, Director, Anorectal Physiology & Ultrasound Laboratory, Fortis Surgical Hospital, Singapore
for New Dimension - biannual newsletter of theSociety for Continence, Singapore
Have you ever noticed a wet sensation in your underwear even when you have cleaned yourself after a bowel movement? Have you experienced “skidmarks” in your underwear? Does it mean you have bowel incontinence? These questions are often asked of me and my fellow colorectal specialists in our clinics.
In my experience, staining your underwear with faecal material is not the same as accidentally letting out solid faeces. Faecal (or bowel) incontinence refers to the involuntary passage of faeces when you do not intend to. Staining your underwear may be a form of passive bowel incontinence but do not panic.
If the staining only happens occasionally and after you use dry tissue to clean yourself after a bowel movement, this may be due to inadequate cleaning. When you have a bowel movement, there will be faeces that stains the inner lining of the anus. We need to clean the anus of this faeces to prevent skidmarks. When you have a bowel movement, the anus actually descends and protrudes slightly. This means the inner lining of the lower anus is protruding out. When you use dry tissue, it irritates the anus lining and the anus retracts quickly, preventing you from cleaning all of the anus. One way to overcome this is to wash your anus after bowel movement or to use wet wipes instead of dry tissue.
If you have tried that and it still stains, you should see a doctor. It could be passive bowel incontinence. Other than staining the underwear, patients with bowel incontinence also tend to have a problem controlling passage of gas. The staining happens frequently and may occur in their sleep or after a long day on their feet. If this condition is left untreated, it may worsen and the patient may eventually lose control of solid stools (severe bowel incontinence).
There are many causes for bowel incontinence and a doctor specializing in bowel continence can help you. You may need to undergo some tests to determine the cause and possible treatment for your bowel incontinence. The specialist will assess the anal muscle integrity, anal (and rectal) function as well as the nerves of the anus. The tests are non-invasive and painless. After that, your specialist can recommend the best treatment for you.
With the modern medicine today, passive bowel incontinence can usually be treated with medication and pelvic floor exercises for the anus. It is rare for these patients to require surgery. Surgery is usually reserved for patients with severe bowel incontinence.
Therefore, if you or your loved one is suffering from staining of the underwear, try to change the way you clean the anus as the first step. However, if that does not improve your problem, please see your doctor for advice. He can recommend a colorectal specialist to help cure you of your “skidmarks”.
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Article contributed by:
Dr Lim Jit Fong,
Senior Consultant, Director, Pelvic Floor Disorder, Director, Anorectal Physiology & Ultrasound Laboratory, Fortis Surgical Hospital, Singapore
for New Dimension - biannual newsletter of theSociety for Continence, Singapore
Dated: Jun 2015
TheSociety for Continence, Singapore (SFCS) is a non-profit organization that originated from the dedicated efforts of a group of doctors, nurses and rehabilitation therapists who recognised the special needs of the incontinent as far back as 1988.
The mission of the society is to promote bladder and bowel health and to work towards a community free of the stigma and restrictions of incontinence.
The society aims to disseminate information and educate healthcare professionals and the public on methods to promote urinary & bowel continence and to promote the education, training and rehabilitation of the incontinent and their general interests and welfare.
