Waiting for test results can feel unsettling, especially when the symptoms involve something as private as bowel control. You may have had anorectal physiology testing because of leakage, urgency, constipation, straining, incomplete emptying, or difficulty controlling wind. By the time the results come back, many people are simply hoping for one thing: a clear answer.
Anorectal physiology results can give your doctor useful information about how the anus, rectum, pelvic floor muscles, nerves, and sensation are working. The results do not just label the problem. They help explain why your symptoms may be happening and what can be done next.
If you have been referred to an anorectal dysfunction clinic or reviewed by colorectal surgeons, your results may guide your treatment plan, further testing, or referral to another specialist. Here is what usually happens after your results come back.
First, Your Results Are Reviewed
After anorectal physiology testing services are completed, the results are usually reviewed by the clinician who performed the test and then sent to your referring doctor or specialist. This may be your GP, gastroenterologist, pelvic floor physiotherapist, gynaecologist, or colorectal surgeon.
The report may include measurements of muscle pressure, squeeze strength, rectal sensation, reflexes, and how well the muscles relax when you try to empty your bowel. It may also include comments about whether the findings are within the expected range or whether they suggest a specific type of bowel dysfunction.
You do not need to understand every number in the report. What matters is how the results connect with your symptoms.
What Your Results May Show
Anorectal physiology testing looks at several parts of bowel function. Your results may show one clear issue, or they may show a combination of factors.
For example, the results may suggest:
- Weak anal sphincter muscles
- Poor squeeze strength
- Reduced rectal sensation
- Increased rectal sensitivity
- Pelvic floor muscles that do not relax properly
- Poor coordination during attempted emptying
- Nerve-related changes
- Signs that constipation is affecting bowel control
- Possible injury to the anal sphincter muscles
- Normal muscle function, suggesting another cause should be explored
It can be frustrating if the results are not as simple as ‘this is the problem’. However, bowel dysfunction is often caused by several things working together. The test helps narrow down which parts of the system need attention.
If the Results Show Muscle Weakness
One common finding is weakness in the anal sphincter muscles. These are the muscles that help you hold in stool and wind until you are ready to go to the toilet.
Weakness may happen after childbirth, previous surgery, trauma, long-term straining, ageing, or nerve-related problems. Some people do not realise they have muscle weakness until they begin having leakage or urgency years later.
If muscle weakness is found, your doctor may recommend pelvic floor physiotherapy. This is not just a matter of ‘doing Kegels’. A trained pelvic floor physiotherapist can help make sure you are using the right muscles in the right way. They may also help with strengthening, bowel habits, toilet positioning, and strategies to reduce leakage.
In some cases, colorectal surgeons may discuss other options, especially if there is a significant muscle injury or symptoms are severe.
If the Results Show Poor Coordination
Some people have bowel symptoms because the muscles do not work in the right order. When you open your bowels, the pelvic floor and anal muscles should relax. If they tighten instead, stool can be difficult to pass.
This can cause constipation, straining, a blocked feeling, incomplete emptying, or the need to return to the toilet soon after going. Some people are surprised to learn that their muscles are not weak, but are instead overactive or poorly coordinated.
If this appears in your results, treatment may involve pelvic floor physiotherapy or biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback uses gentle testing and coaching to help you learn how the muscles are working and how to improve coordination. The goal is to help the body empty more effectively with less straining.
If the Results Show Changes in Sensation
Rectal sensation is an important part of bowel control. Your rectum needs to sense when stool is present so your body can respond.
Some people have reduced sensation, meaning they may not feel stool until the rectum is very full. This can contribute to leakage, constipation, or accidents without much warning. Others have increased sensitivity, where even a small amount of stool or gas creates strong urgency.
Treatment depends on the pattern. Reduced sensation may be managed with bowel routine training, constipation treatment, and pelvic floor support. Increased sensitivity may require treatment of loose stools, urgency, inflammation, irritable bowel symptoms, or other contributing factors.
Your doctor will look at the test results alongside your symptoms, because sensation findings need to be interpreted in context.
If Constipation Is Part of the Problem
Constipation and faecal leakage can happen together. This surprises many people, but it is common. When stool builds up in the bowel, softer stool may leak around it. This can look like diarrhoea, even when the real issue is incomplete emptying or constipation.
If your results suggest poor emptying, reduced sensation, or pelvic floor coordination issues, your treatment plan may focus on improving bowel emptying first. This may include fibre advice, fluid intake, medication, laxatives, stool softeners, toilet routine, or pelvic floor therapy.
It is important not to treat leakage without checking whether constipation is involved. Otherwise, symptoms may keep coming back.
If the Results Are Normal
Normal results can feel confusing if your symptoms are very real. However, a normal anorectal physiology result does not mean nothing is wrong. It simply means the test did not find a major problem with the specific functions measured.
Your doctor may then look at other causes, such as stool consistency, bowel inflammation, medication side effects, diet, irritable bowel syndrome, hormonal changes, neurological conditions, or structural issues that need imaging.
You may be referred for further tests, or your treatment may focus on managing bowel habits, stool consistency, and triggers.
Why These Results Matter
Bowel control problems are more common than many people realise. The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing reports that more than 7.2 million Australians live with incontinence, and that the number of people identified as being impacted has increased by 53% since 2010.
Faecal incontinence is also common in older adults. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners notes that Australian and New Zealand prevalence data indicate faecal incontinence affects around 12–13% of older adults and up to 50% of people in residential aged care.
These figures show why proper assessment matters. Bowel dysfunction is not rare, and it should not be dismissed as something you simply have to tolerate.
What Treatment Options May Be Discussed?
Your treatment plan will depend on your symptoms, test findings, medical history, and goals. Your doctor may recommend one option or a combination of approaches.
Common next steps include:
- Pelvic floor physiotherapy
- Biofeedback therapy
- Bowel habit training
- Treating constipation
- Treating diarrhoea or loose stools
- Adjusting fibre intake
- Reviewing medications
- Managing urgency
- Further imaging or specialist tests
- Surgery in selected cases
- Follow-up with colorectal surgeons
For some people, treatment is simple. For others, it may take time to find the right combination. This does not mean the results were not useful. It means bowel function is influenced by several parts of the body, and care often needs to address more than one factor.
What Should You Ask at Your Follow-Up Appointment?
Your follow-up appointment is your chance to understand what the results mean for you. It may help to write down questions before you go.
You may want to ask:
- What did the test show?
- Are my muscles weak, tight, or poorly coordinated?
- Is my rectal sensation normal?
- Is constipation contributing to my symptoms?
- Do I need pelvic floor physiotherapy?
- Would biofeedback help?
- Do I need further tests?
- Are there changes I can start making now?
- What symptoms should I watch for?
- When should I come back for review?
You do not need to feel embarrassed asking direct questions. These symptoms are exactly what your care team is there to discuss.
When Further Testing May Be Needed
Sometimes anorectal physiology results are only one part of the picture. Your doctor may recommend more testing if they suspect structural changes, inflammation, prolapse, nerve involvement, or another bowel condition.
Further tests may include imaging, endoscopy, ultrasound, or specialist review. This does not automatically mean something serious has been found. It often means your doctor wants a more complete understanding before recommending treatment.
If you have bleeding, unexplained weight loss, black stools, severe pain, sudden major bowel changes, or symptoms that wake you at night, these should be assessed promptly.
Moving From Results to a Plan
Getting your anorectal physiology results back is not the end of the process. It is the point where your care becomes more specific. Instead of guessing why leakage, urgency, constipation, or incomplete emptying is happening, your doctor can use the results to guide the next step.An anorectal dysfunction clinic can help identify whether your symptoms are linked with muscle weakness, sensation changes, poor coordination, constipation, or another issue. With support from colorectal surgeons and access to anorectal physiology testing services, you can move closer to a diagnosis, a treatment plan, and better control over your bowel health.