It is thought that 10% adults may experience bowel incontinence, with 1-2 % reporting major symptoms. Constipation affects around 20% of the population. These problems can have a major impact on quality of an individual’s life.

The severity of symptoms varies from person to person and is dependent upon diagnosed condition.

 Bowel problems in adults can include:

• Common issues such as constipation and difficulties emptying the bowel, faecal incontinence, bowel urgency and diarrhoea.
• Divertucular Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (e.g. Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis).

Bowel problems are not an inevitable consequence of ageing. There is a wide choice of treatments, products and management options available to people. Changes to lifestyle, such as diet and fluids, can significantly improve bowel health. 

Receiving a diagnosis from your doctor can help to identify the right treatment. 

Receive advice on bladder and bowel health issues, continence promotion and options for managing incontinence, as well as signposting to local services.