As an adult, it's understandable to be surprised and more than a little mortified when you realize that you've defecated in your pants. The embarrassment is even more pronounced if you're out in public. What you may be dealing with for the first time is accidental bowel leakage, a condition that causes you to have occasional accidents in your pants. Although you might be shocked, it's important for you to quickly gain control of the situation to avoid further embarrassment — you're embarrassed enough, but this feeling will quickly escalate if people around you realize what has happened. Here are some steps that you'll want to quickly take.

Hurry To The Bathroom

Whether you're at work, out shopping, or elsewhere in public, your absolute first priority is to hurry to the bathroom. Doing so will allow you to assess the situation and make the most of it. If you can find a single-occupancy bathroom, that's ideal. If one isn't available, locking yourself in a bathroom stall will suffice.

Remove Your Underwear

As soon as you're in private, take off your underwear to check their condition. You might feel a little silly, but it's important to remember that you may have a legitimate medical condition, so you shouldn't feel badly. Assess how soiled the garment is. If your underwear is extremely soiled and didn't cost a lot, you might wish to discard them in the bathroom's garbage can. Otherwise, you can clean them out in the sink — do this right away in a single-occupancy bathroom and wait for a few minutes in a larger bathroom.

Clean Yourself Up

Using toilet paper, sanitary wipes, paper towels, or anything else you need, get your backside as clean as possible. You'll be getting dressed without any underwear in a moment, so you want to be sure that your body is clean. If you're concerned about another incident, you might wish to place a couple sheets of paper towel in your pants, or even put a rolled section of toilet paper between your cheeks.

Figure Out Your Next Plans

If you're in a stall, get dressed and quickly wash your underwear in the sink when no one is around. Find some type of product that you can use to carry the underwear. A plastic bag is ideal, as you can tie it or seal it to prevent any odors from escaping. If possible, head home immediately; if you're at work, tell your employer that you're ill and need to go home. Once home, find a health practitioner in your community who handles such cases, and make an appointment for an anal treatment and exam.