Many women suffer from fecal incontinence due to childbirth that caused muscle or nerve damage. However, damage to the rectal muscle or nerves can happen from the strain of chronic constipation. Also, rectal walls may stiffen from surgery or scarring that may cause the inability of the rectum to stretch in order to accommodate the stool. Lastly, there are instances of rectal prolapse or rectocele, where the rectum drops down to the anus or protrudes through the vagina, causing fecal incontinence.