New research shows that fecal incontinence is prevalent among U.S. women, especially those in older age groups, those who have had numerous babies, women whose deliveries were assisted by forceps or vacuum devices, and those who have had a hysterectomy.

The study also sheds light on the medical condition that has many American women remaining silent about this disease.

In a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology many of the women surveyed who had fecal incontinence also had other medical conditions, such as major depression or diabetes, and often suffered from urinary incontinence in addition to FI.

Dee E. Fenner, M.D. says, "Increased attention should be paid to this debilitating condition, especially considering the aging of our population and the available treatments for FI.