Anal incontinence following childbirth injury: The GP’s role

Abstract

One in five people who have a vaginal birth will develop anal incontinence in the 5 years following delivery. Many of them will suffer in silence, reluctant to raise the issue with healthcare professionals and unsure of where to turn to for help. Although an obstetric complication, it is a condition which often initially presents in primary care and is largely managed by GPs. The Ockenden review in 2022 found a significant lack of clinical training in postnatal care and GPs have reported a lack of confidence in supporting patients postnatally. Over the past decade, there has been a 3-fold increase in obstetric anal sphincter injuries. This article aims to raise awareness of anal incontinence post childbirth injury as a clinical issue and to encourage GPs to address this proactively within consultations. After reading this article, GPs should have improved confidence in managing this issue within primary care and an understanding of what resources are available to improve their clinical knowledge in this area.