NATIONAL2BASSOCIATION2BFOR2BCONTINENCE2BURINARY2BINCONTINENCE2BEDUCATION 1024x145 1
Donate Now
Search
Donate Now
Subscribe
NATIONAL2BASSOCIATION2BFOR2BCONTINENCE2BURINARY2BINCONTINENCE2BEDUCATION
Search
Donate Now
[give_form id="19690"]

The Top 3 Reasons To Use A Bowel Diary When You Have Fecal Incontinence

Browse By Topic
Urinary incontinence
Bowel health
Pelvic floor
Caregiving
More +
Search
URINARY INCONTINENCE
BOWEL HEALTH
PELVIC HEALTH
CAREGIVING
MORE+

It sounds weird, doesn’t it?  Keeping a journal for your bowel or bladder?  Maybe, but a Bowel Diary is actually a very useful tool to use if you suffer from Fecal Incontinence or Accidental Bowel Leakage.  

Here Are 3 Reasons To Use A Bowel Diary For Fecal Incontinence

  1. A Bowel Diary Gives You A Good Snapshot Of What’s Happening With Your Body. Knowing how often you leak, when, and how much can give help you create voiding habits that work with your body, and better assess the types of products that you need to address your leakage.  Always have a problem at 10 in the morning?  Perhaps you need to plan to always use the restroom at that time.  Only experience mild leakage? A light absorbent pad may work just fine for your needs.  Keeping a diary will help you make these decisions.

  2. It Helps You To Identify Triggers That May Be Causing You To Have Fecal Incontinence. By keeping a record of your ABL, you can start to uncover trends that may be contributing to the issue. For instance, that cup of coffee first thing in the morning may be irritating your bowels more than you thought before, hinting that it’s time to rethink your java habit.

  3. It Provides You With A Roadmap For A Discussion With Your Doctor. Recording your leaks and daily habits gives you a great reference for when you eventually have a discussion about ABL with your doctor. This can be an embarrassing conversation for many, so having a document that outlines everything you’ve been experiencing can really help the discussion along, and provide your doctor with information that can help him or her prepare a better treatment plan for you.

Download the NAFC Bowel Diary here!

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

A blue and white circular badge with the text TRUSTED PARTNER on top, SERVICE EXCELLENCE on the bottom, NAFC 2026 in the center, and white stars on a ribbon-like design on each side.

Click here for more about our Trusted Partners, including special offers on products and services.

pelvic floor power podcast

Related Articles

Five women of varying ages stand close together, smiling and laughing. The text discusses vital conversations on health—from postpartum to incontinence after prostate cancer surgery—on the Life Without Leaks NAFC podcast.

From Postpartum to Postmenopause: The Conversations Women Need to Have

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we’re joined by Dr. Barbara Frank of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, along with Alex Fennell, co-founder of Attn: Grace, an innovative manufacturer of incontinence products.

Together, we explore the realities of bladder leaks and pelvic floor health during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, perimenopause and menopause, and we discuss why more women are finally beginning to talk more openly about their experiences.

The conversation covers:
• The connection between hormones, menopause and bladder leaks
• Why pelvic floor therapy is having a major moment
• The surprising relationship between pelvic floor tension and incontinence
• How products can impact skin health, comfort and UTIs
• The truth about hormone replacement therapy
• Why community and conversation matter so much in women’s health

Alex also shares the story behind Attn: Grace and the company’s mission to create cleaner, plant-based incontinence products designed to support women with comfort, dignity and confidence.

Whether you’re navigating postpartum recovery, menopause symptoms or simply looking to better understand pelvic health, this episode offers expert insights, practical advice and an encouraging reminder that no one should feel alone in these experiences.

A person sitting on a beige bath mat is placing an incontinence pad into their underwear for skin protection. A box labeled Attn: Grace with blue designs sits on the mat nearby.

Ask The Expert: From A Doctor’s Perspective What Are Some Common Questions You Hear?

If you’ve ever sneezed and held your breath hoping for the best, you’re not alone. Bladder leaks, pelvic floor issues, and the constellation of symptoms that go with them are incredibly common — and incredibly under-discussed. We sat down with two of our favorite experts who are changing the bladder leak conversation: Dr. Barbara Frank, Attn: Grace medical advisor and board certified OB/GYN, and Dr. Sara Reardon, pelvic floor physical therapist (and the woman your pelvic floor has been waiting to meet). They took turns asking each other the questions their patients ask most — and answered them with the same candor they bring to the exam room. They cover everything from how to prepare for postpartum, to what question to ask your own pelvic floor PT, to how to manage incontinence during menopause. This is a knowledge drop you don’t want to miss.

Two older women smiling and walking together on a sunny neighborhood sidewalk, one holding a coffee cup. Both enjoy the confidence provided by discreet incontinence products for women. Trees and houses line the street in the background.

How Aging Changes Bladder Control — What Most People Don’t Expect

As an RN who’s worked in geriatrics for over 14 years, I know first hand that changes in bladder control can be a common part of aging. However, what I’ve also learned is that the treatment and management of these changes differ depending on whether they are due to aging or other conditions.
If you’re experiencing more frequent trips to the bathroom or sudden, intense urges to urinate, you might be wondering what is going on and what you can do about it. Let’s talk through some of the changes that might be going on in your body and how you can be better prepared to manage your bladder control.

Five women of varying ages stand close together, smiling and laughing. The text discusses vital conversations on health—from postpartum to incontinence after prostate cancer surgery—on the Life Without Leaks NAFC podcast.

From Postpartum to Postmenopause: The Conversations Women Need to Have

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we’re joined by Dr. Barbara Frank of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, along with Alex Fennell, co-founder of Attn: Grace, an innovative manufacturer of incontinence products.

Together, we explore the realities of bladder leaks and pelvic floor health during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, perimenopause and menopause, and we discuss why more women are finally beginning to talk more openly about their experiences.

The conversation covers:
• The connection between hormones, menopause and bladder leaks
• Why pelvic floor therapy is having a major moment
• The surprising relationship between pelvic floor tension and incontinence
• How products can impact skin health, comfort and UTIs
• The truth about hormone replacement therapy
• Why community and conversation matter so much in women’s health

Alex also shares the story behind Attn: Grace and the company’s mission to create cleaner, plant-based incontinence products designed to support women with comfort, dignity and confidence.

Whether you’re navigating postpartum recovery, menopause symptoms or simply looking to better understand pelvic health, this episode offers expert insights, practical advice and an encouraging reminder that no one should feel alone in these experiences.

A middle-aged man with glasses and a checked shirt stands with arms crossed, next to text that reads: Help improve care for men with stress urinary incontinence! on a blue background.
Your voice Matters

Men with stress urinary incontinence are invited to complete a confidential 20-minute survey about daily symptoms, treatment experiences, and quality of life.

Take The Survey