The “pelvic floor” is the group of muscles that stretch from the pubic bone to the tailbone. These muscles help stabilize and support the spine, abdomen, bladder, bowels and uterus in women. Pelvic floor muscles also help control bladder and bowel control, as well as sexual function.

Living with accidental bowel leakage (ABL) or fecal incontinence can be socially isolating, physically painful and emotionally challenging. At Weill Cornell Medicine, we help patients achieve the high quality of life that you want and deserve.

If you have tried non-surgical treatments for fecal incontinence, consider learning about surgical options. You do not need to live with discomfort or the fear of embarrassment.

At Weill Cornell Medicine, we understand that if you’ve been diagnosed with anal cancer, you are looking for support and information. After the cancer is found, our compassionate care team will talk with you about all of your treatment options.

With complex colon and rectal disorders, reoperative surgery is sometimes necessary. Reoperative surgery is a repeat operation for the same condition if the disease advances or recurs, or as follow-up to a previous surgery.

At Weill Cornell Medicine, our team of colon and rectal surgeons are specialists in reoperative surgery and often perform complex operations. Our goal with reoperative surgeries is to maximize your health outcomes and minimize complications in these challenging cases.

Endometriosis occurs when the tissue lining the uterus (the endometrium) grows to other areas. In some cases, endometriosis can grow to the bowels.

Most patients with endometriosis of the bowel experience pelvic pain, infertility, pain during sex and rectal bleeding while menstruating. It’s possible to also experience difficulty or painful bowel movements and digestive or gastrointestinal pain.