Over one in five women cannot reach a toilet in time or lose control of wind or waste from their back passage within five years of an injury to their anus and pelvic floor during childbirth

This is called Anal Incontinence, or AI for short. Some women have AI after birth, but others find it starts or worsens around the time of the menopause. The physical, emotional and social impact of AI can be profound and long lasting. Women suffering AI report anger, feeling unclean, relationship breakdown, isolation and loss of self-esteem. Asian women are at higher risk of these injuries than White women.  Women often find it difficult to talk about symptoms to health care professionals. It takes on average seven years before women with AI are seen by a professional with the experience and training to treat their symptoms.

This research aims to understand the experiences of women who develop AI following childbirth injuries and find out what they would like in an online resource. We will interview women with AI after a birth injury and we are particularly interested to speak to Asian and Black women. We will then make a website for women to access information and support. The website information will be chosen by women with AI.


If you would like to be involved please either email GRACE@warwick.ac.uk or call 02476 151404