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Potty talk is awkward and no one’s favorite topic. But the truth is that we all poop. Maintaining healthy bowel movements is important not only for a healthy digestive system but also for other organs in the body, such as the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, skin, and hair, as well as overall health and well-being. But bowel movement frequency is not a one-size-fits-all. Please keep reading to find out how often you should poop, when to see your doctor, and how to maintain healthy bowel patterns. 

What Is The Normal Bowel Movement Frequency?

Many people wonder: What is a normal poop schedule? The answer is it depends. Bowel movements happen at different frequencies for different people. If you have had bowel movements three times a week for most of your life, that’s normal for you. The important thing is to watch out for any changes from “your normal.” 

Generally speaking, most people have between three bowel movements a day to three bowel movements a week. Doctors usually label fewer than three bowel movements a week as constipation and more than three bowel movements daily as diarrhea.

However, some unhealthy bowel patterns should be evaluated by a healthcare provider (see above). Your primary care provider may refer you to a gastroenterologist (specialist in conditions of the digestive system), if needed. 

Common Questions About Pooping Frequency

Is pooping every day necessary?

Pooping every day is not necessary. As mentioned above, everyone has their own ‘normal’ when it comes to bowel habits. So, even if you’re not pooping every day, you could still have normal bowel movement patterns. As long as you are pooping regularly like you always have and don’t have any other gastrointestinal symptoms, you are probably okay. 

Is it OK to only poop every 3-4 days?

It is okay to only poop every 3-4 days if this is your normal pattern and you don’t have any other signs and symptoms.

Is it normal to poop once a week?

Poop habits vary from person to person. If you have always pooped once a week, it may be normal. However, regularity less than 3 times per week is considered constipation and should be evaluated. Also, if your bowel movement frequency has gone from pooping every day to pooping once a week and you have symptoms like bloating and abdominal pain, you should be evaluated by your healthcare provider. 

Remember that how often you poop depends on various factors, including age, nutrition, exercise, food allergies, lifestyle, and mental stress. Pay attention to any changes in bowel habits. Both constipation and chronic diarrhea should be evaluated if they are new symptoms for you. 

Is it normal to poop 3x daily?

Pooping 3x daily can be normal as long as it is a consistent pattern for you and there are no other symptoms. If you have had a recent increase to pooping 3 times daily, talk to your healthcare provider.

What if I poop five times a day?

Pooping five times a day is not normal for most people. It can occur due to medical conditions like bacterial or viral infections, food intolerance, or side effects of medications. In addition to bowel movement frequency, you should also pay attention to poop consistency. Seek medical attention if you have liquid poop several times a day for more than two days. 

What Affects Normal Bowel Movements?

Many factors can affect healthy poop habits, including:

Diet

Many foods and beverages can affect your bowel movement frequency. A high-fiber diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can add bulk to your stool, accelerate transit times, and prevent constipation. Therefore, fiber intake is important for regular poop frequency. Drinking coffee can cause more frequent bowel movements because caffeine has a laxative effect.

Hydration

Drinking enough fluids is important to help push stool out from your digestive system and maintain regular bathroom habits. Fluids should be caffeine free, alcohol free, and sugar free.

Exercise

Staying physically active helps people poop by increasing motility (muscle contractions) in the colon (large intestine).

Mental Health

High-stress levels can affect bowel habits, causing either constipation or diarrhea. For example, anxiety can release stress hormones that cause you to poop, often referred to as “nervous poop.”

Hormonal Changes

Some women experience more frequent bowel movements when menstruating. This is believed to be due to lower hormone levels and other factors like uterine cramps.

Medications 

Many medications can affect the gut microbiome (balance of good and bad bacteria in your digestive tract). This can cause changes in regular bowel movements. Medications such as opioid pain relievers and iron supplements can constipate you. Antibiotics can cause diarrhea. Tell your doctor if you have these side effects.

Medical Conditions

Food intolerances and allergies such as lactose intolerance or celiac disease can affect how often you poop. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) also affect the frequency of bowel movements and stool consistency (for example, solid pieces versus fuzzy with ragged edges). Endocrine disorders like diabetes and thyroid disorders can also affect the digestive system. 

When To Worry About Pooping Habits?

Normal bowel movements are not only a sign of good bowel health but overall health as well. Keeping track of your bowel habits is important because it helps you understand what normal bowel movements are for you. If you start to notice irregular or abnormal bowel movement patterns, these could be a sign of digestive problems. 

You should see your health care professional if you have the following issues: 

• Blood in your stool (black stools or bright red blood from red blood cells)

• Foul-smelling stools

• Constipation (less than 3 bowel movements a week)

• Diarrhea for more than two days, especially if accompanied by vomiting 

• Alternating cycles of constipation and diarrhea without any obvious cause

• Symptoms like severe abdominal pain, anal pain, nausea, vomiting, or unexplained weight loss

• Constipation paired with abdominal or anal pain could be related to underlying medical conditions such as infections, autoimmune disease, hyperthyroidism, gastrointestinal tumors, and fat malabsorption disorder.

What Does Healthy Poop Look Like?

You can use the Bristol Stool Chart to identify if you are experiencing constipation:

Type 1: Separate, hard, nut-like lumps that are hard to pass.

Type 2: Lumpy, sausage-shaped stool.

Type 3: Sausage-shaped with cracks on the surface.

Type 4: Sausage- or snake-like with a smooth surface.

Type 5: Soft blobs with clearly defined edges.

Type 6: Mushy poop with ragged edges.

Type 7: Watery with no solid pieces.

Types 1 and 2 indicate constipation. Types 3-4 are normal, healthy poop. Types 5-7 may indicate diarrhea.

How Do You Check for Constipation?

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, constipation is:

• Pooping less than three times a week

• Dry, hard, or lumpy stools 

• Difficulty or pain with passing stools

• A feeling of incomplete emptying of the rectum (that all stool has not passed)

Often times, you can manage mild-moderate cases of constipation with lifestyle and dietary changes. However, if the symptoms listed above persist and seem severe, consult your healthcare provider. 

Constipation is a common condition, and the Cleveland Clinic estimates that at least 2.5 million people in the US see their healthcare provider for it each year. It’s more likely to occur with age. Constipation left untreated can lead to complications such as a hemorrhoid, anal fissure, rectal bleeding, fecal impaction, and rectal prolapse.

What Is The Best OTC Medicine for Constipation?

Some over-the-counter laxatives that can be used to relieve occasional constipation include:

• Osmotic laxatives (Milk of Magnesia, Polyethylene Glycol, MiraLAX)

• Bulk-forming laxatives (Benefiber, FiberCon, Metamucil, Citrucel) 

• Stool softeners (Colace, Docusate Calcium)

• Stimulants (Dulcolax, Senekot, Bisacodyl)

• Rectal suppositories (Bisacodyl, Dulcolax)

While many laxatives are available over-the-counter, they should only be used to relieve occasional constipation. Overuse of laxatives can lead to health problems, including dependence on these medications to have a bowel movement. Consider eating more fiber-rich foods, increasing water intake, and exercising regularly before taking laxatives.

If you have chronic constipation (regularity less than 3 times per week with dry, hard stools), you should be evaluated by your primary care physician or a doctor in gastroenterology (expert in stomach, small intestine, and colorectal issues) to find out what is causing constipation.

Tips For Maintaining Regular Bowel Movements

Several factors affect how often you poop. Here are some tips to stay more regular and maintain good digestive health:

• Eat more fiber-rich foods to help your colon move waste out of your body. If you don’t get enough fiber in your diet, talk to your healthcare professional about taking fiber supplements like Metamucil. 

•  Stay hydrated to soften your stool and stimulate bowel movements. Drink more water and stay away from drinks high in caffeine and sugar

• Eat 2-3 servings of low-fat dairy products like yogurt, which contain natural probiotics (good gut bacteria).

• Engage in regular physical activity. Lack of physical activity can lead to slow digestion. When food takes longer to pass through the digestive tract, it allows more water to be absorbed from the stool, resulting in harder stool that’s more difficult to pass. 

• Maintain a healthy body weight. People with a higher BMI (body mass index) and a medical history of gastrointestinal conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) tend to have more severe symptoms.

• Don’t ignore the urge to poop. This can lead to the absorption of more water from your stool, making it drier and harder to pass.