Table 3 Symptoms in the cohort of 81 mothers with bowel incontinence after childbirth

Bowel incontinence

81 (100 %)

Flatus incontinence

79 (98 %)

Severe urgency (deferment <2mins)

77 (95 %)

Soiling

73 (90 %)

Impaired rectal evacuation

65 (81 %)

Urge incontinence

64 (79 %)

Passive incontinence

28 (35 %)

Urinary incontinence

42 (52 %)

Sexual dysfunction

79 (98 %)

Marital distress

70 (86 %)

Intercourse no longer spontaneous

61 (75 %)

Intercourse no longer orgasmic

52 (64 %)

Fear of faecal leakage during intercourse

52 (64 %)

Painful during intercourse

40 (49 %)

Never resumed intercourse

10 (12 %)

Failed partnership/marriage (at time of study)

7 (8 %)