You may think at first that bladder (urinary) and bowel incontinence are two separate issues - after all they’re two very different organs! 

However, there’s actually a pretty fascinating connection between the bladder and bowel that can significantly influence incontinence symptoms and treatment.

Let's look closer at the connection between bladder and bowel health.

What does the pelvic floor do?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles (almost like a hammock!) that support the bladder, bowel, and uterus (in women).

These muscles play a crucial role in maintaining continence by controlling the opening and closing of the urethra (for urine) and the anus (for stool). When these muscles weaken or become dysfunctional, it can cause bladder and bowel incontinence.

Making sure your pelvic floor is strong, but also knows when to relax, can really help manage and even eradicate incontinence symptoms in some cases.

Strengthening the muscles through pelvic floor exercises can benefit bladder and bowel control. We even have a whole video series on what exercises you can try!

We recommend getting personalised advice from your doctor or a pelvic physiotherapist before you get started, they can confirm whether the exercises are safe for you to do.

How are the bladder and bowel connected?

Not only are they both supported by the pelvic floor, the bladder and bowel also share nerve pathways that communicate with the brain.

These nerves send signals to the organs and pelvic floor muscles surrounding them, controlling when to hold and when to release. Any disruption in these nerve signals can affect the bladder and bowel simultaneously [1].

This explains why some people can experience urinary and faecal incontinence at the same time, and even why treating one type of incontinence can sometimes improve the other.

Knowing these facts emphasises the need to investigate nerve damage or neurological conditions in cases of dual incontinence.

What contributes to bladder and bowel incontinence?

Several factors can contribute to both bladder and bowel incontinence, including:

Weak pelvic floor muscles:

Pregnancy, childbirth, ageing, obesity, and chronic constipation can weaken these essential muscles.

Nerve damage:

Conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries can disrupt nerve signals.

Pelvic organ prolapse:

When pelvic organs drop down and put pressure on the bladder or rectum.

Chronic constipation:

Straining during bowel movements can weaken the pelvic floor and lead to both types of incontinence.

How can you manage and treat incontinence?

Given the connection between bladder and bowel health and the intricate factors that can impact both organs, it's important to approach incontinence management with a well-rounded approach.

Management and treatment options might include:

Pelvic floor exercises:

Kegels and other exercises can strengthen pelvic muscles and improve both bladder and bowel control.

Dietary changes:

A balanced diet rich in fibre can promote healthy bowel movements and prevent constipation which can ease incontinence symptoms.

Behavioural techniques:

Bowel training and bladder training can help restore control and reduce urgency.

Medications:

Depending on the cause of your incontinence, medications might be prescribed to improve muscle function or reduce bladder and bowel spasms.

Medical procedures:

In some cases, surgery might be necessary to repair pelvic organ prolapse or address nerve damage.

Incontinence aids:

Using high-quality, absorbent incontinence aids can make all the difference to not only managing leaks but also your mental and social wellbeing.


You can more comfortably and confidently go about your day without letting incontinence stop you - because it doesn’t have to!

Our range of Dailee incontinence aids will be such a helping hand on your incontinence journey. They keep you fresh and dry between changes thanks to their rapid absorbency technology.

Understanding the connection between the bladder and bowel can empower you to take a more proactive approach to managing incontinence.


Addressing both bladder and bowel health simultaneously with your health professional could be the winning ticket in regaining control and improving your quality of life.