Uhh, Is It Normal To Be Pooping So Many Times A Day? Asking For A Friend
Everybody poops—it’s a simple fact of life. You also probably have some type of pooping routine. Maybe you usually go right when you get up or an hour after you have coffee in the morning, or you regularly take a mid-afternoon poo. So it’s completely understandable that you’d get a bit confused if you start pooping so much more than normal.
While going number-two more than usual can be a sign that something is off, it’s not usually a reason for an otherwise healthy young women to freak out, says Kyle Staller, MD, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. "Probably one of the most common things would be dietary intolerances—you ate something that doesn’t agree with you," says Dr. Staller. This is especially true if you have a change for a few days and then it goes back to normal.
Okay, but how many times is it normal to poop per day?
It really varies from person to person, says Scharles Konadu, MD, a gastroenterologist at Huguley Medical Associates in Texas. "One thing to understand is each person has their own norm when it comes to bowel movements," says Dr. Konadu. "While one person may poop daily another may go every other day and another every two days."
In general, if the amount you're pooping isn't causing any discomfort, you're probably fine, says Dr. Konadu. And again, if pooping more frequently is your typical baseline, then there's no need to worry. But if you're suddenly having more than three bowel movements a day (especially if they're watery), you may want to check in with a doctor just to make sure things are functioning the way they should.
Wondering why the heck you're pooping so much? These are the 11 most common causes of more frequent bowel movements.
1. You started eating healthier.
One of the most common reasons why young women start pooping more is because they increased their fiber intake, says Rudy Bedford, MD, a gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. So, if you suddenly started pooping more around the time you started adding more vegetables to your diet, that’s likely why.
2. You got an infection.
Viral and bacterial infections (think: everything from the flu to E. coli) can cause excessive pooping and diarrhea, says Dr. Staller. While this is normal, if you have bloody poop or a fever with it, you should get it checked out.
3. You increased your workouts.
Stepping up your exercise routine can make you go more than usual, says Dr. Bedford. Here’s why: Exercise increases muscle contractions in your colon, working poop out of your body faster than it did before. That’s why doctors may encourage you to work out more if you’re constipated.
4. You have IBS.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is no joke, and Dr. Staller says it’s common in young women. The condition—an intestinal disorder that causes pain in your stomach, gas, and cramping—can also make you poop a lot. "The classic patient gets sudden abdominal pain and cramping associated with constipation or diarrhea," says Dr. Staller. If you notice you have these other symptoms in addition to a high frequency of pooping, see your doctor about it.
5. You’re stressed out.
For people who already have gastro issues like IBS, stress can be a poop trigger. "Many people have more loose bowel movements when they’re under stress," says Dr. Staller. When your stress subsides, so should the number of times you need to use the bathroom.
6. You're on your period.
Many women who are just about to get their periods or already have their periods will have looser or more frequent BMs. It’s likely due to a shift in hormones around your cycle (specifically progesterone), and is "very normal," says Dr. Staller. If you only have to go more often (or have diarrhea) around your time of the month, that's likely the cause—and totally normal.
7. You're overdoing it on the coffee.
Coffee acts as a pro-motility agent, as WH reported previously, meaning it causes more movement and muscle contraction. That's because the caffeine stimulates muscle contractions in your intestines, causing you to have to go to the bathroom. And the more caffeine you drink, the more of a laxative effect it will have. If you're chugging cups of Joe every day and are running to the bathroom a lot, try scaling back the amount you consume.
8. You have an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
An IBD is different than IBS and includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions cause chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, as the name suggests. If you have an IBD, it can cause permanent damage to the digestive tract over time, so you definitely want to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.
The thing is, if you're just having regular poops multiple times a day, you probably aren't dealing with an IBD. Other symptoms of IBDs include bloody stools, fatigue, severe abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, and even weight loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So if this sounds like your sitch, that warrants a trip to a gastroenterologist STAT.
9. You're on medication.
Some medications, like certain antibiotics, may change what's happening in your GI tract, including the bacteria makeup in your system, according to Harvard Health. In turn, you may have more bowel movements or diarrhea. This should subside when you're done taking the antibiotic or Rx. And any time you're prescribed medication, your doc should let you know if this is a possible side effect (and you can ask as well!).
One note: If you have abdominal pain or notice blood in your stools, call your doctor. This could be a sign of a more serious problem, like an infection or an IBD.
10. You have celiac disease.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting the appropriate absorption of food and nutrients in the small bowel caused by an immune reaction to gluten found in certain foods. The immune reaction can show up as symptoms like diarrhea or constipation, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, abdominal pain and even rashes, explains Dr. Konadu.
If these symptoms sound spot on, talk to your doctor about celiac disease since many people have it and just don't know. Your doctor will order blood tests that can help determine whether you have the condition. To alleviate the symptoms of celiac disease, you'll likely have to switch up your eating habits. "Celiac disease is simply treated by avoiding gluten in the diet," says Dr. Konadu. Luckily, there are plenty of gluten-free versions of all your favorite foods.
11. You have hyperthyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune disorder that causes an imbalance of thyroid hormone in your blood, says Dr. Konadu. The imbalance is caused by an overproduction of the hormone thyroxine by the thyroid gland and can lead to an increased metabolism. This can manifest itself in symptoms like weight loss, brittle hair, sweating, and increased heart rate, in addition to bowel irregularities, most commonly diarrhea.
To determine if you have hyperthyroidism, consult an endocrinologist, who will likely order a blood test. Once you're diagnosed, they'll then give you medication that slows down the production of hormone in the thyroid gland, or in some cases may even recommend surgery on the thyroid gland. Controlling the amount of hormone released into the blood should then alleviate the bowel issues you're having.
How can you tell your poop issues aren't something more serious?
Abdominal pain, bloody stool, and mucus in your poop are always clues that something isn’t right, says Dr. Bedford, and you should see a doctor if you're experiencing any of those issues.
The way your bowel movements are impacting your life is also a big tip-off, notes Dr. Staller. If you really don’t give it another thought, you’re probably fine. But if you find that you’re changing your routine or avoiding social situations because you’re worried about pooping, you need to see a doctor.
Says Dr. Staller, "If it’s a common thing where you’re always on the lookout for a bathroom, you should go and get evaluated." No matter what the cause, there's plenty of treatment options and ways to help you stop spending so much time in the bathroom.
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