The Scoop on Poop - What is your poop telling you?

May is Pelvic Pain Awareness month and healthy bowel habits are important component to consider in overall pelvic health.

What is your poop telling you?

A lot of our clients with pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic pain, endometriosis, and prolapse have some trouble with their bowels. IBS and other bowel-related issues can cause abdominal pain, rectal pain, and pelvic floor problems. It’s a connection that is very important to consider!

Today we will discuss poop color, texture, and size. While many of us may turn our heads when we flush, there are some important details about your health that can be gathered from the color of your poop, so consider taking a gander at your poop before you flush it away.

Stool Color

According to the Mayo Clinic, stool color can vary widely and still be considered normal. Most stool ranges in shades of brown and green. The variance in color is due to what you are eating as well as the amount of bile present in your stool. Bile is the fluid secreted by your gallbladder that digests fats in your GI system. Bile starts out a yellow-green color and slowly changes color from green to brown depending on what other substances are in your GI tract.

If your poop is bright red or black, you may have blood in your stool. If this is the case, go see a doctor.

More information about poop color and what it may tell you can be found below

(source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/stool-color/expert-answers/faq-20058080).

Stool Texture

IBS can changes in the consistency of stools, usually harder or much softer than usual. At the clinic we use a handy scale called the Bristol Stool Scale to help therapists categorize your poop. The texture of your stool gives you an idea of how much time it has spent in the colon. Factors besides IBS that may affect poop texture include diet, fluid intake, medications, pelvic floor dysfunction, and lifestyle can be factors that play into the texture of your stool as well.

Reproduced from Dr KW Heaton, formerly Reader in Medicine at the University of Bristol. ©2000-2014, Norgine group of companies.

The Bristol Stool Chart shows seven categories of stool, in general:

Types 1-2 may indicate constipation

Types 3-4 indicate ideal stools that are easy to pass

Types 5-7 indicate diarrhea

However, if you are straining to evacuate your stools (pushing, holding your breath, turning your face red, etc.)- go see a pelvic floor therapist as you might be having some pelvic floor issues which might be contributing to your problem.

Size

Irritable bowel syndrome can cause your stools to be smaller, larger or narrower than usual.

According to the Mayo Clinic, if you have pencil thin poops every once in a while, it is probably harmless. However, if your poops are pencil thin for more than 1-2 weeks, it may indicate a narrowing or obstruction of the colon due to colon cancer or a pelvic floor dysfunction.

Other Changes

Consult your doctor immediately if your bowel changes are accompanied by rectal bleeding or severe abdominal pain. Pelvic floor therapy can help you if you are experiencing pelvic pain and voiding issues, so don’t be shy about contacting us if you are having any issues.

Resources

Blake, M. R., Raker, J. M., & Whelan, K. (2016). Validity and reliability of the Bristol Stool Form Scale in healthy adults and patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 44(7), 693–703.doi:10.1111/apt.13746 

Mayo Clinic, Stool color: When to worry Expert Answers from Michael F. Picco, M.D. Accessed on 4/10/19 from:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/stool-color/expert-answers/faq-20058080

Mayo Clinic, Narrow stools: Should I be concerned? Expert Answers from Michael F. Picco, M.D.https://www.mayoclinic.org/narrow-stools/expert-answers/faq-20057781