What Is Fecal Incontinence, and Why Does It Happen?
Fecal incontinence is the accidental loss of bowel control, ranging from occasional leakage or soiling to a complete inability to reach the restroom in time. Some people experience a sudden, overwhelming urge with no warning. Others notice leakage without any sensation at all. Both experiences are real, both are forms of fecal incontinence, and both are treatable.
The condition has several well-understood causes. Nerve damage affecting the signals between the brain and the bowel is among the most common. Sphincter muscle weakness, rectal prolapse, chronic constipation or diarrhea, and complications from prior surgery or childbirth are also frequent contributors. Understanding what is driving your specific symptoms is one of the first things our team addresses, because the right treatment depends on the right diagnosis.
Fecal incontinence affects millions of adults across the country. Research consistently shows that most patients wait years, sometimes decades, before seeking help, largely because of embarrassment. If that describes you, it is worth knowing that the patients we see every day in our Denver-area offices have had that same experience. You are in good company, and you have come to the right place.
Treatment Options for Fecal Incontinence, From Conservative to Advanced
There is no single treatment pathway for bowel incontinence, which means there are options no matter where you’re starting from. There are multiple points of entry, and options at every stage. Our team evaluates each patient individually to determine which approach fits their situation.
For patients earlier in their treatment journey, conservative options are often the starting point. Dietary modifications, including adjustments to fiber intake and fluid habits, can meaningfully reduce episodes of leakage for some patients. Keeping a bowel diary to track patterns is a practical self-monitoring tool that helps our specialists identify triggers. Pelvic floor physical therapy, pelvic floor exercises, biofeedback therapy using a biofeedback device to help retrain the muscles involved in bowel control, and prescription medications are also part of the toolkit. These approaches work well for a meaningful portion of patients, and Incontinence Centers of America works with patients at all stages of the treatment journey.
For patients who have tried conservative treatments without adequate relief, a more advanced option may be appropriate.
Axonics Therapy for Fecal Incontinence
Axonics Therapy is an FDA-cleared sacral neuromodulation device designed for patients with moderate to severe bowel incontinence who have not found sufficient relief from conservative approaches. The therapy works by delivering gentle, targeted stimulation to the sacral nerves, the nerves that govern bowel function, restoring normal communication between the brain and the bowel. The implantable device is small and designed for long-term use.
Clinical data published in Neurourol Urodyn (2021) found that 93% of patients achieved clinically significant improvements in bowel control at the two-year mark, with a 94% patient satisfaction rate. Less than 2% of patients reported discomfort from the implant itself. These figures come from sourced clinical research and they reflect why sacral neuromodulation has become a meaningful option for patients who felt they had run out of choices.
Is Axonics Therapy Right for You?
Not every patient is a candidate for Axonics Therapy, and that is precisely why we begin with an evaluation. The candidacy process is not a commitment to a procedure. It is a conversation about your history, your symptoms, and what you have already tried, leading to a clear recommendation about the treatment pathway most likely to help you. Many patients are relieved to learn that the first step is simply an evaluation, not a procedure. If Axonics Therapy is appropriate for your situation, our team will walk you through what to expect. If a different approach is the better fit, we will tell you that too.
Why Denver Patients Choose Incontinence Centers of America
Most medical practices treat incontinence as one condition among dozens. At Incontinence Centers of America, it is the only condition we treat. Our practice is dedicated exclusively to bladder and bowel health. Patients are not competing for attention with a full general urology or gastroenterology caseload. Every specialist on our team, every appointment, and every treatment decision is focused on the same set of conditions you came in for.
Our collaborative physician team includes three bladder and bowel specialists across three Colorado locations. The Englewood office, located at 10700 E. Geddes Ave., Suite 100A, and our Lone Tree Surgery Center at 9218 Kimmer Drive #101 serves patients throughout the greater Denver metro area. Our Colorado Springs office at 9925 Federal Dr., Suite 110 serves patients in the southern Front Range. Wherever you are along the Front Range, focused specialty care is accessible.
One of the most consistent barriers patients face when considering treatment is uncertainty about cost. Fecal incontinence treatment, including Axonics Therapy when medically indicated, is covered by most major insurance plans. Incontinence Centers of America is in-network with Aetna, Anthem, BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, Medicare, and United Healthcare. We recommend contacting our office to confirm your specific benefits before your first appointment, but for most patients, coverage is not the obstacle they feared it would be.
If you have searched for a fecal incontinence specialist near me and found yourself uncertain about which direction to go, the answer we hear most often from patients is that they wish they had come in sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What treatments are available for fecal incontinence in Denver?
Treatment options for fecal incontinence range from conservative approaches to advanced therapy, depending on the severity of your symptoms and what you have already tried. Conservative options include dietary modifications such as fiber adjustments, pelvic floor physical therapy, biofeedback therapy, and medications. For patients who have not found sufficient relief from those approaches, Axonics Therapy, an FDA-cleared sacral neuromodulation device, may be an appropriate next step. At Incontinence Centers of America, our bladder and bowel specialists evaluate each patient individually to determine the most appropriate treatment pathway based on the underlying cause and severity of their condition.
How does Axonics Therapy help with fecal incontinence?
Axonics Therapy is an FDA-cleared sacral neuromodulation device that works by restoring normal communication between the brain and the bowel. A small implantable device delivers gentle stimulation to the sacral nerves that control bowel function, reducing or eliminating episodes of accidental leakage for qualifying patients. Clinical data published in Neurourol Urodyn (2021) found that 93% of patients who received the therapy achieved clinically significant improvements in bowel control at two years, with a 94% overall patient satisfaction rate. Our team at Incontinence Centers of America will determine whether you are a candidate for this therapy during your evaluation.
Is fecal incontinence treatment covered by insurance?
Yes, fecal incontinence treatment, including Axonics Therapy when it is medically appropriate, is covered by most major insurance plans. Incontinence Centers of America is in-network with Aetna, Anthem, BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, Medicare, and United Healthcare. We recommend contacting our office before your first appointment to confirm your specific coverage, but for most patients with qualifying diagnoses, treatment is a covered benefit rather than an out-of-pocket expense.
How do I know if I am a candidate for fecal incontinence treatment at ICA?
The best way to find out is through the candidacy evaluation that Incontinence Centers of America offers as the entry point for new patients. Patients who experience accidental bowel leakage, sudden urgency, or have already tried conservative treatments without adequate relief are often strong candidates for an advanced evaluation. The process begins with a short candidacy questionnaire that you can complete online, followed by an appointment where our bladder and bowel specialists review your history and recommend the most appropriate treatment pathway for your situation.
Is fecal incontinence a normal part of aging?
Fecal incontinence is common, affecting millions of adults, but it is not a normal or inevitable part of getting older. It is a medical condition with identifiable causes, including nerve damage, sphincter muscle weakness, and structural issues such as rectal prolapse, and it responds well to treatment when evaluated by a specialist. Many patients assume they simply have to live with bowel control problems because of their age, but that assumption causes unnecessary suffering. Incontinence Centers of America treats patients of all ages who have experienced significant improvement in their quality of life after pursuing appropriate care.
What can I expect at my first appointment?
Your first appointment at Incontinence Centers of America is focused on understanding your history and determining the best path forward, not on immediately committing to a specific treatment. Our team will review your symptoms, discuss what you have already tried, and ask about how bowel incontinence is affecting your daily life. From there, they will recommend a treatment plan tailored to your situation, whether that means starting with conservative approaches, moving toward an evaluation for Axonics Therapy, or something in between. The goal of the first visit is clarity, not pressure.
Where are Incontinence Centers of America's Denver-area locations?
Incontinence Centers of America serves Denver metro patients from three convenient Front Range locations. Our Englewood office is located at 10700 E. Geddes Ave., Suite 100A, and our Lone Tree location is at 9218 Kimmer Drive #101. Colorado Springs at 9925 Federal Dr., Suite 110 serves patients in the southern Front Range. All three offices provide the same level of dedicated, specialized bladder and bowel care, and our physician team works collaboratively across all locations.
