Why Does It Hurt When I Poop? 10 Causes And Treatment

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Medical News TodaySubscribeHuman BiologyWhat can make passing stool painful?

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — Written by Jessica Caporuscio, PharmD on September 25, 2019

Possible causes
Seeing a doctor
Bowel health tips
Summary

There are many possible causes of painful bowel movements ranging from constipation to anal cancer. It is normal to occasionally experience mild pain while pooping.

However, when this happens regularly, it could indicate an underlying medical condition.

In this article, we cover 10 possible causes of painful bowel movements and how to treat them. We also explain when it is necessary to see a doctor.

Possible causes

A person may experience a painful bowel movement for a number of reasons, including:

1. Constipation

Toilet handle to represent pain during bowel movements or pooping — Painful bowel movements is a common symptom of constipation.

A person can become constipated for multiple reasons, such as:

a hardening of stool due to a lack of fiber or water
a slowing of intestinal movements
as a side effect of a medication
emotional issues

Healthcare providers may use the Rome IV criteria to diagnose constipation. To receive a diagnosis of constipation, two or more of the following symptoms must be present for at least 1 month in infants and children up to 4 years old:

passing two or fewer bowel movements in a week
if they usually have complete control of their bowels, having at least one accidental bowel movement per week
a history of fecal withholding, or not using the bathroom despite having an urge
passing hard and painful stools

A doctor may diagnose chronic constipation in a child over 4 years old if these symptoms persist for at least 2 months.

Health professionals tend to recommend increasing water and fiber intake or taking fiber supplements as the first steps in treating constipation.

If symptoms persist despite making these dietary changes, taking over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives is also a good treatment option. A pharmacist can advise on the best product in each case.

If there is no movement within 2–3 days, or if pain develops or worsens, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.

2. Anal fissures

An anal fissure is a tear in the skin around the anus. Anal fissures can occur as a result of constipation or passing hard stools. Anal penetration can also cause a fissure.

Other possible causes include:

sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
chronic diarrhea
inflammatory bowel disease
human papillomavirus
anal cancer
vaginal delivery
surgery

If constipation has caused an anal fissure, a healthcare provider may recommend taking stool softeners to help it heal.

Lidocaine jelly is also helpful for reducing the pain of an anal fissure. A doctor may also suggest nitroglycerin or nifedipine ointments. Both drugs will increase blood flow to the anus, which helps the body heal the injury.

People with chronic anal fissures may need surgery. Another treatment option for more severe cases is to inject botulinum toxin A (Botox).

3. Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins under or on top of the skin in the anus. Both can make passing a bowel movement painful.

Sometimes, people will also see blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet bowl.

Several OTC treatments are available for hemorrhoids, such as hydrocortisone. More severe hemorrhoids may require surgery, however.

Doctors and pharmacists will recommend that people with hemorrhoids keep their stools as soft as possible. This will help ease the pain of passing a bowel movement over a hemorrhoid.

4. Diarrhea

Antibiotics can help treat an infection that is causing diarrhea.

Passing three or more loose or watery bowel movements per day may indicate diarrhea. Chronic cases of diarrhea can last for longer than 4 weeks.

To treat diarrhea, a health professional may recommend loperamide (Imodium). If an infection is causing the diarrhea, a person will need to take antibiotics.

Chronic or bloody diarrhea requires prompt medical attention.

5. Food intolerances and sensitivities

People with food intolerances or sensitivities may experience painful bowel movements or diarrhea if they eat certain foods. Common examples include lactose and glucose intolerances.

The best form of treatment is to avoid eating any foods that the person knows can trigger a reaction.

6. Inflammatory bowel disease

The two types of inflammatory bowel disease are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

People with ulcerative colitis may experience bloody diarrhea with or without mucus. Episodes of diarrhea can cause pain during bowel movements. Other symptoms of ulcerative colitis may include:

urgently needing to pass stools
abdominal pain
weight loss

People with Crohn’s disease may experience some different symptoms. For example, they may feel abdominal pain on the lower right side or have diarrhea without any blood.

Treatments for both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, such as prednisone, work to suppress the immune system. These medications reduce inflammation to manage the symptoms.

Some people may need to take corticosteroids regularly as a long term treatment.

7. Proctitis and anusitis

Proctitis refers to inflammation in the rectum. Anusitis, meanwhile, is inflammation in the anus. These conditions share many symptoms with hemorrhoids.

To treat proctitis and anusitis, it is necessary for a doctor to first understand the cause. Several factors can lead to proctitis or anusitis, including:

ulcerative colitis
STIs
colon infections
certain medications
consuming a diet too rich in citrus, coffee, cola, beer, garlic, spices, or sauces

8. Anal cancer

Anal cancer can cause tumors to develop around the anus that make bowel movements painful. Other symptoms of anal cancer include:

bleeding from the anus
pain or irritation in the anus or pelvis
weight loss
feeling a weight in the anus or rectum
incontinence
severe constipation

It is important to consult a doctor immediately if these symptoms occur.

9. Endometriosis

Endometriosis can cause painful bowel movements.

In endometriosis, tissue that normally lines the uterus develops in other areas of the body, such as the ovaries.

Researchers estimate that 3.8% to 37% of endometriosis cases affect the bowel. Symptoms of this condition include:

pain during bowel movements
mucus in the stool
bleeding from the rectum
diarrhea or constipation
bloating

Health professionals tend to treat bowel endometriosis using hormonal therapy or surgery.

10. Skin conditions

Some chronic skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis, can cause rashes to develop on the anus. Passing a bowel movement over an irritated area of skin can be painful.

Sometimes, painful genital warts can also develop on or near the anus.

When to see a doctor

Painful bowel movements have many potential causes. Some — including constipation, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids — are treatable at home. However, other causes may require medical attention.

People who find blood in their stools or feel severe pain during bowel movements should see a doctor for advice and treatment.

Bowel health tips

People experiencing diarrhea should drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Doctors recommend also following the BRAT diet, which focuses on:

bananas
rice
applesauce
toast

Following a diet rich in fiber is essential for preventing constipation and keeping good bowel health. Getting regular physical activity also helps prevent constipation.

Summary

Keeping the bowel healthy requires daily care. It is important to eat fiber rich foods and drink enough water. Many causes of painful bowel movements are preventable.

Some people have conditions or infections that cause painful bowel movements. These are not always treatable with OTC remedies, so it may be necessary to see a doctor.

Food Allergy
Crohn's / IBD
GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Nutrition / Diet

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Babiker, H. M., & Cagir, B. (2019). Cancer, anal.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441891/
Bashir, A., & Sizar, O. (2019). Laxatives.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537246/
Colorectal cancer screening tests. (2018).https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/screening-tests-used.html
Diaz, S., & Mendez, M. D. (2018). Constipation.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513291/
Endometriosis. (2017).http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/endometriosis
Ferrero, S., et al. (2011). Bowel endometriosis: Recent insights and unsolved problems.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3069336/
Fontem, R. F., & Eyvazzadeh, D. (2019). Internal hemorrhoid.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537182/
Jahnny, B., & Ashurst, J. V. (2019). Anal fissures.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526063/
Lawrence, A., & McLaren, E. R. (2019). External hemorrhoid.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500009/
Leslie, S. W., & Kumar, S. (2019). Genital warts.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441884/
Lynch, W. D., & Hsu, R. (2018). Colitis, ulcerative.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459282/
McDowell, C., & Haseeb, M. (2019). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470312/
Meseeha, M., & Attia, M. (2019). Proctitis and anusitis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430892/
Nemeth, V., et al. (2019). Diarrhea.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448082/

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — Written by Jessica Caporuscio, PharmD on September 25, 2019

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Tag » Why Does My Butthole Hurt When I Poop

Why Does It Hurt When I Poop? 10 Causes And Treatment

Possible causes

1. Constipation

2. Anal fissures

3. Hemorrhoids

4. Diarrhea

5. Food intolerances and sensitivities

6. Inflammatory bowel disease

7. Proctitis and anusitis

8. Anal cancer

9. Endometriosis

10. Skin conditions

When to see a doctor

Bowel health tips

Summary

How we reviewed this article:

Latest news

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