Severity and impact of accidental bowel leakage two decades after no, one, or two obstetrical sphincter injuries

Summary: This study investigated the long-term severity and subjective impact of anal incontinence among women who had experienced 1 or 2 consecutive obstetrical anal sphincter injuries compared with those without injuries. The study used prospectively registered data and a questionnaire to analyze outcomes, including the frequency of fecal and gas incontinence, the impact on daily life, and the effect on other pelvic floor disorders. The results showed that the severity and impact of anal incontinence doubled and quadrupled in women with 1 or 2 consecutive sphincter injuries, respectively, compared with those without injury. The second sphincter injury had an equally large additive effect compared to the first injury. However, the study found that 1 or 2 sphincter injuries did not affect other pelvic floor disorders or lower urinary tract symptoms compared to women without injury.

Article: Severity and impact of accidental bowel leakage two decades after no, one, or two sphincter injuries – American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

News Release: Decades-long suffering from obstetric injuries – University of Gothenburg