You might not hear about it often, but an embarrassing problem is prevalent among U.S. women, according to a new study.

Research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that fecal incontinence is most likely to occur in older women, those who have had numerous babies, those whose deliveries were assisted by forceps or vacuum devices, and those who have had a hysterectomy.

Fecal incontinence can occur after damage to the anal sphincter muscles or scarring to the rectum, causing it to be unable to hold stool.

More than 5.5 million Americans have fecal incontinence, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. It affects people of all ages -- children as well as adults, although it's more common in women than in men.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Washington, included a survey of 6,000 women. Of the 64 percent who responded, 7.2 percent reported having fecal incontinence, which was defined as loss of liquid or solid stool at least monthly.

The impact of the condition on the quality of life of the respondents was "significant," said lead researcher Dr. Dee Fenner, of the University of Michigan Medical School.

"We found that half of the subjects with FI reported that their bowel symptoms had a large impact on their quality of life," Fenner said in a news release.

The researchers found that many women in the study who had fecal incontinence also had another medical condition, such as major depression or diabetes, and often experienced urinary incontinence.

They found that fecal incontinence could be a contributing factor to major depression in some cases, and major depression could be a contributing factor to fecal incontinence in other cases.

Because of the nature of the condition, people often do not discuss it with their doctors, experts said. Thus, researchers encourage doctors to take a more active role in finding out if their patients are experiencing fecal incontinence, especially among patients age 50 or older.

They said that although the condition is present in many elderly women, it should not be considered merely a normal part of aging. They also encourage women to discuss the issue with their doctors.

Treatments for managing fecal incontinence can include changes in diet and exercise, medications that improve the formation of stools and surgery that repairs the sphincter muscles.

Additional Resources:

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• MayoClinic.com