Pressure on the bladder from a fecal impaction of the bowel can cause incontinence. Rarely, there may be more serious causes, such as a pelvic, bowel or a bladder tumor. There is no way to tell simply from symptoms which of these problems is the cause of the incontinence in a particular person. As a result, new onset or persistent incontinence should be evaluated by a health care professional knowledgeable in this area, to make the correct diagnosis, and to plan management. Evaluation often consists of questions about the pattern of the problem, urine test, pelvic or prostate examination, and occasionally an ultrasound test or scope test of the bladder or bowel.
Bladder control can often be fully or partly restored, or improved with appropriate management.
Infections can be treated, medicines changed, bowel retention relieved, bladder relaxing medications prescribed. Urethral narrowing in women can be improved with dilations, and urethral narrowing by the prostate gland in men can be treated with medications, or surgical or non-surgical procedures. In women there are other options for management or treatment. Female hormone creams or tablets are sometimes useful. Mechanical devices called pessaries, which lift the bladder can be inserted.