What changes in stools (such as color, consistency, or frequency of
bowel movements) should prompt me to see my doctor for an exam?
Color — The color of stools varies, depending on the foods you eat. You
should be concerned if your stools are deep red, black, or "tarry."
This can indicate that there’s blood in the stool. Small amounts of bright red
blood on stool or toilet paper are probably due to a scratch in the rectal area
or caused by hemorrhoids and generally should not cause concern. However, if
more than a few bright red streaks are visible in the stool or on the toilet
paper, you should notify your health care provider.
Consistency — Stools should be soft and pass easily. Hard, dry stools
might be a sign of constipation. As indicated below, you should notify your health
care provider if constipation lasts longer than two weeks.
If stool becomes impacted or lodged in the rectum, mucus and fluid will leak
out around the stool, leading to fecal incontinence. Call your health care
provider if you have mucus or fluid leakage from the rectum.
Watery, loose stools that increase in frequency are a sign of diarrhea. If
abdominal pain or severe discomfort accompanies diarrhea and is not relieved by
the passage of stools or gas, call your health care provider. Also call your
health care provider if:
- Diarrhea is accompanied by fever of 101 degrees or higher, chills, vomiting,
or fainting.
- Severe diarrhea lasts longer than two days in an adult, one day in a child
under age 3, or eight hours in an infant under six months.
- Mild diarrhea continues for one to two weeks without obvious cause.
Frequency —
The normal length of time between bowel movements ("stools")
ranges widely from person to person. Some people have bowel movements three
times a day; others only once or twice a week.
Going longer than three days without having a bowel movement is too long.
After three days, the stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass.
Constipation then occurs as bowel movements become difficult or less frequent.
If you have constipation for more than two weeks, you should see a doctor so he
or she can determine the source of your problem and treat it.
Only a small minority of patients with constipation have a more serious
medical problem (such as poor function of the thyroid gland, diabetes, or colon
cancer). For a patient who has colon cancer, early detection and treatment might
be life-saving.
If you have unexplained, sudden urges to have a bowel movement, you should
also contact your health care provider. This could be a sign of a mass in the
rectum.