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Obstetric delivery is thought to be a primary cause of fecal incontinence. Investigators surveyed all women who delivered in Oregon during a 6-month period in 2002 to estimate the incidence of fecal incontinence at 3 to 6 months postpartum.
Of the more than 8700 women who completed the survey (40% response rate), 29% reported experiencing fecal incontinence — defined as recurring episodes of involuntary loss of stool or flatus — since delivery. Fully 46% of the women with incontinence reported incontinence of stool. Frequency of incontinence ranged from daily to just during intercourse. After adjusting for parity, the authors found that body-mass index >30, increased length of pushing before delivery, third- or fourth-degree lacerations at d…