What Are Possible Medical Explanations for Not Being Able to Fully Empty My Bowels?

Internal Medicine, Mass General Brigham

Supervised by Suo Lee, MD

Not being able to fully empty your bowels can be linked to problems like chronic constipation, issues with pelvic floor muscles, or nerve and muscle problems that affect how your colon and rectum work.

Explanation

There are a few medical reasons that might explain the feeling of not fully emptying your bowels. One common reason is chronic constipation. When stools become hard and pass slowly through the colon, some stool may remain in the rectum. Another possibility is a problem with how the muscles in your pelvis or rectum work. Sometimes the muscles do not relax properly during a bowel movement, making it hard to completely empty your bowels. This problem may be related to a condition called dyssynergic defecation, where the muscles do not coordinate as they should. Additionally, diabetes can affect nerve signals in your body, including those that help control bowel movements, and this can lead to incomplete evacuation. Lifestyle factors, such as a diet low in fiber or not enough physical activity, may also play a role. It is important to talk with a healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms so they can help find the cause and suggest the right treatment.

(References)

Chiba T, Kikuchi S, Omori S, Seino K. Chronic constipation and acute urinary retention. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Jan 1;34(1):e1-e2. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000001970. PMID: 33273268; PMCID: PMC8614547.
Ihana-Sugiyama N, Nagata N, Yamamoto-Honda R, Izawa E, Kajio H, Shimbo T, Kakei M, Uemura N, Akiyama J, Noda M. Constipation, hard stools, fecal urgency, and incomplete evacuation, but not diarrhea is associated with diabetes and its related factors. World J Gastroenterol. 2016 Mar 21;22(11):3252-60. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i11.3252. PMID: 27004003; PMCID: PMC4790001.
Bharucha AE, Dunivan G, Goode PS, Lukacz ES, Markland AD, Matthews CA, Mott L, Rogers RG, Zinsmeister AR, Whitehead WE, Rao SS, Hamilton FA. Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and classification of fecal incontinence: state of the science summary for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) workshop. Am J Gastroenterol. 2015 Jan;110(1):127-36. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2014.396. Epub 2014 Dec 23. PMID: 25533002; PMCID: PMC4418464.

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