Skip navigation! Story from Body. While we're arguably more aware of female pain than ever, there are still some unchartered health topics that have yet to be explored: like bowel movement pain. Although this is a reality many of us have experienced at one point or another, we don't talk about poop pain nearly enough. Shit happens, and it's nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, being aware of your gastrointestinal issues is important to your health long-term, so it's important to speak up. Painful poop is actually a very common topic, even among young women, according to Rita Knotts , MD, gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health.
The most common causes of painful poops can be traced back to constipation , defined as having fewer than three bowel movements a week, she says. When you're constipated and pooping less frequently, your stool is often very hard because there's less water in it, Dr.
Knotts says. If you strain too hard, it can actually cause something called an anal fissure , which is a small split or tear in the tissue lining the rectum. You might recall Tom Schwartz suffered from this on Summer House. Symptoms include painful bowels and sometimes blood. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus and rectum. They're usually caused by constipation. In addition to pain during bowel movements, symptoms of hemorrhoids include:.
An anal fissure is a tear in the lining of the anus. They're often caused by passing hard stool. On top of pain during bowel movements, symptoms include:. Generally, bright red blood means the bleeding comes from near the rectum and anus. Bleeding farther up causes dark blood or tarry stools.
Ongoing pain with bowel movements is a signal that something is wrong. It may be anal or rectal pain. Those can come from hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Symptoms of both including itching and bright red blood. Three common health conditions involve pain from intestinal spasms and cramping associated with bowel movements.
Abdominal pain is a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease IBD. That's a group of inflammatory disorders comprising Crohn's disease , and ulcerative colitis. The pain comes from inflammation in the intestinal tract. Other IBD symptoms include:. Pain with bowel movements is a hallmark symptom of irritable bowel syndrome IBS.
It's not known exactly what is behind the pain. Other symptoms include:. According to the Rome IV criteria for diagnosis , IBS pain may get better or worse before, during, or after you defecate. This is a change from the previous Rome III criteria which says pain should be relieved by a bowel movement.
Colon cancer occurs in the large intestine and can affect bowel habits. Sometimes it causes pain during bowel movements. Symptoms include:. Unlike hemorrhoids and anal fissures, rectal blood from colon cancer is usually be dark rather than bright red. Stools may also be bloody or tarry. Intestinal causes of painful bowel movements include Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, and possibly irritable bowel syndrome. Watch for bloody stools and other digestive symptoms.
Pregnancy can cause pain during bowel movements. This may be due in part to hormonal changes that affect intestinal function and sensitivity. Also, the weight of the developing fetus may put pressure on the organs of the digestive tract.
These changes increase your risk of painful bowel movements plus:. If your bowl-movement pain goes along with other gynecological symptoms, the problem may be endometriosis. That's the result of endometrial tissue uterine lining growing outside the uterus. Endometrosis has a wide variety of symptoms. Painful bowel movements are one of the more prominent. Others include:. Endometriosis occurs more frequently in women who have never given birth, had periods early, are going through menopause late, or have short or especially heavy periods.
Frequent pain with bowel movements is a sign of a health problem. It may come from hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Watch for itching and bright red blood. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, and possibly irritable bowel syndrome can cause bowel movement pain as well. Bloody stools and other digestive symptoms can point to these causes. The hormone changes of pregnancy affect intestinal sensitivity. That makes painful bowel movements common. Endometriosis also causes painful bowel movements due to uterine tissue growing where it's not supposed to be.
Don't write off painful bowel movements as normal. That's especially important if the pain is severe, persistent, or getting worse.
Let your healthcare provider know about your symptoms. Then they can diagnose the problem and start treatment. Both are important for your gut health and should be consumed daily.
What you can do about it: If pooping is painful, try increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, Dr. Newberry suggests. Culprits can include antacids, narcotic pain medications, iron tablets, certain blood pressure medications, and antidepressants. What you can do about it: Understand the common side effects of your medications, and if there is a concern they may be causing your constipation, talk to your doctor about trying something else or even using a stool softener.
Some people with IBS may have bowel spasms and diarrhea while others have constipation. Stevoff says. Besides lifestyle changes like diet, stress management, and exercise, there are also some medications approved for IBS treatment.
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