There are many causes of incontinence and these include
Being continent (able to hold in one's stool and not leak) involves several factors. It requires an intact, strong anal sphincter muscle, functioning nerves that control the anal sphincter muscles. Any process that damages the anal sphincter muscles or the nerves can cause incontinence. Aging can affect continence because as one grows older, the bulk and strength of the anal muscle decreases.
In addition, stool consistency plays a part as well. Imagine your hand holding onto a tennis ball and your other hand holding onto some water. It is easier to control the tennis ball and not let it slip out of your hands when compared to water. Similarly, it is easier for the anal sphincter muscle hold on to solid stool, rather than liquid stool. The rectum is also involved for continence. When stool presents at the rectum, the rectum then relaxes and then accommodates (stores) the stool until it is time to defecate.
Rectums that are stiff will not be able to do this, and hence the person would have to run to the bathroom urgently every time the stool presents at the rectum.
Injury during childbirth is one of the most common causes of incontinence.
Sometimes, during vaginal delivery, there might be a tear in the perineum extending into the anal sphincter muscle. With the tear in the anal sphincter, the muscle strength is decreased.
Secondly, the nerves controlling the anal sphincter muscles can also get stretched and damaged during childbirth.
While some injuries may be recognized immediately following childbirth, others can manifest much later in life (when the anal sphincter muscle strength decreases with aging) and hence the link between incontinence and the previous childbirth may not be recognized.
