Accidental bowel leakage, abbreviated ABL, refers to the unwanted loss of solid or liquid stool or mucus from the anus. It is also called fecal incontinence or bowel incontinence. Bowel leakage is more likely to occur with diarrhea or loose, watery stools because it is much harder for the pelvic floor muscles and anal sphincters to control stool of that consistency.

There are 2 main types of ABL.

• Urgency-related bowel leakage: This happens with a strong urge to have a bowel movement that is difficult to control. It is the most common type.

• Passive bowel leakage: This is leakage that occurs without feeling the urge to have a bowel movement.

There are several possible causes of ABL.

• When the pelvic floor muscles are injured or not strong enough to keep the anal opening closed, stool can pass without the ability to control when and where.

• Bowel leakage can occur because of nerve damage that leads to weakness in the pelvic floor muscles or limits the ability to sense the urge to have a bowel movement.

• ABL can also happen from constipation or when the rectum loses its ability to stretch to hold stool.