What is fecal incontinence? Fecal incontinence is the inability to control your bowel movements, causing stool (feces) to leak unexpectedly from your rectum. Also called bowel or anal incontinence, fecal incontinence can range from occasional leakage of a small quantity of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control. The ability to hold stool (called continence) requires the rectum, anus and nervous system to be working normally.