Anorectal manometric characteristics in men and women with idiopathic fecal incontinence.

To characterize and compare the anorectal manometric findings of men and women with idiopathic fecal incontinence referred to a tertiary care center for pelvic floor disorders, we reviewed 86 consecutive patients who underwent anorectal manometry during a 13-month period. We determined the etiologies of all patients and analyzed men and women with no obvious cause (idiopathic). The manometric parameters included resting and squeeze anal canal pressures, duration of squeeze pressures, threshold of external anal sphincter contraction, threshold of rectal sensation, and rectal compliance. Thirty-one of 86 patients were classified as having idiopathic fecal incontinence. The mean age of the 7 male patients with idiopathic fecal incontinence was 65 years, (range, 45-78 years) and 63 years (range, 38-83 years) in the 24 women. Compared with male patients, female patients had lower sphincteric pressures and shorter squeeze durations. Both men and women frequently exhibited poor phasic response of the external anal sphincter to rectal distention. We conclude that, compared with men, women with idiopathic fecal incontinence more often exhibit abnormalities of anal sphincteric motor function. The sex-related differences in muscle mass and past traumatic events related to childbirth may partly account for these findings.