Tighten the Sphincter muscle. I never knew they could do it either, but they can. And they did on me this last May. It is not fun. I spent 12 weeks lying on one side or the other or one my back. Or standing. No bending, no squatting, no lifting, no stairs climbing, absolutely nothing until it heals. Liquid and semi-liquid diet, graduating to soft, low residue until it heals. And the stitches didn't hold where the incision was made (happens in 50% of the cases) and so I had to heal from the inside out. So, instead of having the normal female anatomy of 3 holes, I had 4 for about 3 months!!!!!!!! Sorry, don't want to offend anyone here, but I don't know how else to explain it. Incision is made just above the sphincter muscle (between anus and vagina) and it's tightened in a snail type fashion until it has an opening about the diameter of a small pinky finger.It has finally made some difference in control. A lot of nerves are damaged (not from the surgery, but before) and they don't know how much "sensation" I will get back. I can't always tell when I have to pass some BM, and other times I can, so maybe it's coming around again. Time---the name of the game. Doc said this procedure has bought me possibly 5 "good" years before I'll have to have a Colostomy. Inevitable I guess. Too much damage from having babies, bad episiotomies, hemmorrhoid surgery, colitis, etc. My Doctor said it happens to alot of women----some women never mention this type of problem to their doctor because they are embarrassed. What could be more embarrassing than bowel incontinence in a public place!!! Been there and done that and it left me housebound and that was not living. That's when I finally told my G.P. that I wasn't going to settle for him chalking it up to colitis any more. I wasn't living---I was merely existing. That's when he sent me to a very good Colon/Rectal Specialist/Surgeon who really knows his stuff!!!The Doctor also told me that there are a lot of men out there with similar problems of bowel incontinence---the reasons why may be different, but if anyone reads this and sees themselves, please, by all means---don't give up. There is a specialist somewhere that can help you. If anyone has any questions for me, I will gladly answer them the best I can.Take care.Karen------------------There is a silent strength within each soul, and that strength is multiplied for those who remember that they do not walk their path alone. Thomas J. Edwards