Fecal Incontinence

Bowel control problems are extremely common, but they are not normal. If you suffer from bowel control issues, you know how much they can interrupt your life—whether that means dealing with frequent bowel accidents, constantly monitoring what and how much you eat, relying on pads or protective garments, or planning activities around the nearest bathroom. It’s time to speak up and get back to living your life.

You are Not Alone

Find Relief for Bowel Control Problems

Fecal Incontinence (FI) is a treatable condition. It’s not a normal part of aging,
and you shouldn’t have to deal with it on your own.

Learn More

Do You Qualify?

Take a two-minute quiz to see if you qualify for treatment. 

Take The Quiz

Treatment Options

There are many ways to manage bowel control problems. Remember, if conservative treatments don’t deliver the results you need, you have more options.

  • Lifestyle Changes

    Conservative treatments can help some people but may not work very well (or at all) for others. All of these are relatively simple behavioral changes that you may already be doing.

    • Dietary modification: changes may include adjusting fiber intake or eliminating troublesome foods.
    • Bowel retraining: also called biofeedback, this aims to improve bowel sensation, coordination, and strength.
    • Medication: anti-diarrheal medication may provide some relief.
  • Oral Medications

    When lifestyle changes fail to deliver the relief results you want, oral medications are the next step. These medications can help control symptoms but may cause other issues.

    These medications need to be taken daily. Some side effects can be unpleasant, such as dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness or constipation. Other side effects are more serious. Even more important, these medications don't always work. In one survey, 72% of people said they stopped taking their medication after just six months.4

  • Advanced Therapies

    If conservative treatments don’t deliver the results you want, you have more options.

Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy Delivered by the InterStim™ System

Evidence suggests that breakdowns in the bowel-brain communication pathway may be a root cause of chronic fecal incontinence (FI).1 That’s why conventional treatments may not produce the results you want — they don’t directly target this miscommunication.

Unlike conventional treatments, the Medtronic InterStim™ systems gently stimulate the sacral nerves in your pelvic area that control your bowel. This may help restore* bowel-brain communication and reduce your symptoms.

The relief you’ve been waiting for

When more conservative treatments fail, Medtronic bowel control therapy delivered by the InterStim™ systems can help. This therapy is simple and discreet, and it delivers the kind of relief that lets you enjoy the activities you love without a second thought.

  • Targets the nerves that control your bowel to help it function normally again.

  • Clinically proven to stop or greatly reduce bowel accidents3.

  • Significantly improved quality of life (lifestyle, ability to cope, embarrassment, and depression)3.

  • Lets you evaluate if it works before you and your doctor decide.

  • Allows you to get full-body MRI scans if you need them‡.

  • Hundreds of thousands of people have experienced relief* with this safe, FDA-approved and minimally invasive therapy†.

The choice is yours

Medtronic bowel control therapy delivered by the InterStim™ systems offers recharge-free and rechargeable options, so you can choose the right one for your lifestyle.

Proven Results

Medtronic bowel control therapy delivered by the InterStim™ systems provides life-changing relief, with 89% of people experiencing long-term success and achieving significant, lasting improvement in the management of fecal incontinence (FI).

  • Is InterStim™ Right for You?

    You may be a good candidate for Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy delivered by the InterStim™ systems if:

    • You have significant chronic fecal incontinence symptoms
    • You’ve tried lifestyle changes and oral medications
    • These therapies haven’t given you the relief you want
  • See if It Works For You

    Unlike other bowel control treatments, this therapy lets you try it first with an evaluation — like a test run, not a long-term commitment.

    • The simple test starts at your doctor’s office or an outpatient center
    • A lead (thin wire) is inserted in the upper part of your buttock
    • The lead attached to a small external device worn discreetly under your clothes
    • Stop, start or adjust the therapy settings, with an easy-to-use programmer that resembles a smartphone
    • Go about most of your regular activities for 3-14 days
    • Track your symptoms to see if they improve
    • Talk with your doctor about your results and find out if it’s likely to help you

    Complications can occur with the evaluation, including movement of the wire, technical problems with the device, and some temporary pain. Your doctor or nurse will show you how to use the system and inform you of any activity restrictions and other precautions related to the test.

  • Side Effects and Risks

    The most common adverse events were implant site pain, paresthesia, change in sensation of stimulation, implant site infection, urinary incontinence, neurostimulator battery depletion, diarrhea, pain in extremity, undesirable change in stimulation, buttock pain, and migration of implant.

    Implanting an InterStim™ system has risks similar to any surgical procedure, including swelling, bruising, bleeding, and infection. Talk with your doctor about ways to minimize these risks. Complications can occur with the evaluation, including movement of the wire, technical problems with the device, and some temporary pain. Your doctor or nurse will provide you with the information regarding how to operate the test device, and inform you of other precautions related to the evaluation and activity restrictions.

More control starts with our smart programmer

The smart programmer allows you and your healthcare provider to manage your therapy as needed. Unlike previous iterations of our technology that resembled a key fob without a display screen, our Smart Programmer allows you:

  • Visibility to check your stimulation level on a clear, easy-to-read screen

  • Adjust your stimulation with confidence that it has been changed to the setting you intended

  • Turn stimulation on or off

  • Change therapy programs (as directed by your healthcare provider)

  • Activate MRI mode and check MRI eligibility (see more information below)

Download Brochure

MRI Confidence

Medtronic’s proprietary SureScan™ MRI technology is what enables patients to get full-body‡ 1.5 and 3T MRI scans. It is the only sacral neuromodulation system with this SureScan technology. This means:

  • Full-body‡ 1.5 and 3T scans

  • No impedance checks required prior to MRI scans

  • Scans allowed even if you have had out-of-range impedances

  • MRI mode is easy to activate or deactivate on Medtronic’s smart programmer without clinician or Medtronic interaction

  • Digital display for clear confirmation of MRI mode activation

Access the Medtronic InterStim MRI Brochure to learn about our MRI Center of Excellence and MRI testing lab and for information on how to activate MRI mode on your smart programmer.

Download Brochure

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why is this therapy different?

    You can try it before you decide, and it’s reversible if you change your mind later.

  • What can this therapy do for me?

    It can significantly improve quality of life by reducing your symptoms. It’s shown to work in people who have chronic FI.

    Hull T, Giese C, Wexner SD, et al. Long-term durability of sacral nerve stimulation therapy for chronic fecal incontinence. Dis Colon Rectum. 2013; 56(2):234–245.

  • Will it cure my condition?

    No. It can help some people achieve complete continence, but it’s not a cure. If the neurostimulator is turned off or removed, symptoms can return.

  • What does the stimulation feel like?

    Most people describe it as a tingling, flutter, or vibration in the pelvic area. It should not be painful. Stimulation settings can be adjusted, and sensations will vary from person to person.

  • Does the therapy work long term?

    Clinical data shows that after five years, people using the InterStim™ system continue to experience significant improvements in quality of life. No other SNM system has this long-term data. Your experience may be different. More people rely on Medtronic than any other SNM system to provide this relief.
    Hull T, Giese C, Wexner SD, et al. Long-term durability of sacral nerve stimulation therapy for chronic fecal incontinence. Dis Colon Rectum. 2013; 56(2):234–245.

  • Can I have an MRI?

    People with an InterStim™ system can have a full-body MRI scan under certain conditions. Your doctor will determine whether you meet those conditions.

  • Will insurance cover the costs?

    Medicare and many private insurance companies cover this therapy. Talk to your doctor to learn more about your insurance coverage.

Patient Stories

Resources

*Defined as a 50% or greater reduction in your troublesome bowel symptoms. ** Success defined as ≥ 50% reduction of episodes/week. † Data from InterStim™ Sales Analysis. Medtronic, Inc. December 2019. ‡ Under certain conditions. See approved labeling for details. Patients with InterStim™ SureScan MRI leads only. ¶ Success defined as ≥ 50% reduction of episodes per week. This patient group had data at both baseline and the five-year visit. Another analysis reported 69% of people achieved success with Medtronic bowel control therapy. For this patient group, missing data at five years because of a device-related reason was counted as failure or if it was missing for non-device related reasons, the most recent data was carried forward. Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information. 1 Patton V, Wiklendt L, et al. The effect of sacral nerve stimulation on distal colonic motility in patients with fecal incontinence. Br J Surg. 2013 Jun;100(7):959–68. 2 National Center for Biotechnology Information. How do bowel movements work?: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279481/. Accessed June 27, 2017. 3 Hull T, Giese C, Wexner SD, et al. Long-term durability of sacral nerve stimulation therapy for chronic fecal incontinence. Dis Colon Rectum. 2013; 56(2):234–245. 4 Yeaw J, Benner J, Walt JG et al. Comparing adherence and persistence