Pregnancy and giving birth can change how often you poop too. While many people experience constipation after giving birth, some poop more. When this happens, it’s called postpartum diarrhea. Some medical conditions and medications can affect bowel health and cause a person to poop more or less often than usual. Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and even a basic stomach flu virus, can change how often a person has to poop. According to a 2014 study, people are more likely to experience abdominal pain and diarrhea in the days leading up to a period. Alcohol can have an immediate effect on the amount a person poops. Drinks with a higher alcohol content may slow down the digestive system, and low-alcohol beverages may speed it up. But if you strain, push, feel bad, or nothing comes out, it doesn't matter if you go every day. You may have a problem. The number does not matter. What does matter is how you feel.

It depends on so many factors, but the main thing is what you put into your body. If you eat like crap, you will poop like crap—it won't be good. So fiber and fluids are the mainstays of treatment. This forms the foundation for good bowel movements. Other things that contribute are things outside the gut, and include exercise, stress, and the body's natural rhythm. If you have been pooping in the afternoon or evening lately and you'd like to change it to the morning, can you do that?

How often a person passes stool can vary. Some people poop twice a day while others may do so three times a week. Constipation typically means a person poops fewer than three times a week. A person who consumes plenty of fiber can promote more regular bowel movements. People should consume more vegetables, whole grains, and pulses. Anal leakage, or fecal incontinence, can cause stool to leak from the anus. Possible causes include diarrhea, nerve damage, and hemorrhoids. Learn… READ MORE Caffeine and other compounds found in coffee can cause a laxative effect and help move stools through the colon, according to a 2020 review of research. 2. Exercise

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the small intestine cannot break down into smaller molecules. As a result, it passes to the colon as a mass of undigested food that eventually becomes poop, also known as stool. A diet that is adequate in fiber can promote regularity and prevent constipation. Medical history If you are lactose intolerant, eating certain dairy products can cause an increase in bowel movements, as well as other symptoms like gas and bloating. A need to poop more often than usual is not necessarily a cause for concern. However, a person should see a doctor if they experience any of the following symptoms: Exercise, even walking, can also help keep your bowel movements regular and healthy. By being active, you keep your digestive system working. Food intolerances occur when a person is unable to digest certain foods properly. Symptoms include:a change in how you poo - such as going to the toilet more often or your poo becoming more runny or hard The earliest symptoms are usually polyps, small growths within the colon which can be detected on colonoscopy and removed before they can become cancerous. Later symptoms may be unexplained fatigue; change in bowel habits; persistent abdominal discomfort such as gas or cramps; blood in stool; or rectal bleeding. Anyone who is is concerned about their health should talk to their doctor. The doctor can evaluate the concerns and help to determine what, if any, changes the person needs to make.

Holt, J. (2016, March 24). Potty talk: What is a normal bowel movement — and why is this important for your health? Retrieved from

It is not always possible to stop the triggers of more frequent bowel movements. However, the following tips may help reduce the risk of digestive issues. Increasing fiber intake The time it takes for food to make its way through your digestive system also varies from person to person. It takes different amounts of time for men and women to digest their meals, too. If there is also blurred vision, dizziness, or paralysis, the nervous system may be affected due to botulism. This is a medical emergency. Take the patient to the emergency room or call 9-1-1. Add prebiotics to your diet, too. One common prebiotic is dextran, a soluble fiber that you can even stir into coffee. This is a super-fun novelty item that’s brilliant at dividing toilet time between a family or housemates. Or, if you know someone that hogs the bog, it’s an excellent gift for sending a not-so-subtle message!

The treatment for more frequent pooping depends on the underlying cause. If a person has an underlying medical condition, a doctor will need to treat this to alleviate symptoms. The nervous system is intricately involved in digestion and defecation, so there are many reasons why dysfunction can manifest in feeling like you need to poop frequently. For example, the abdomen normally stretches when there is gas or stool present. However, abnormalities in the nerves of the digestive system may cause stretching that is greater than normal as well as discomfort. If the signals between the brain and the intestines are poorly coordinated, your body may overreact, resulting in pain, diarrhea, or constipation. Normal variation of constipation Proper food preparation and storage, along with frequent and thorough handwashing, is the best prevention. If you don’t feel good, or you start to notice that your rhythm is off, we need to evaluate what is going on. And if it is off, it could be a sign of something going on inside the colon. Is it bad if you don't poop around the same time every day? Diarrhea can occur as a result of a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection. The exact cause may not be obvious in some cases.Ask the Poop Doctor is a column from Dr. Sameer Islam, MD, a Texas-based gastroenterologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Here, he sheds light on many aspects of the inner workings of your gastrointestinal system. He also hosts segments such as Poop Tip Thursday and Let's Talk About Poop on his YouTube channel. Have a question you'd like to submit? Leave it in the comments section below! Informed Health Online [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Irritable bowel syndrome: Overview. 2013 Sep 10 [Updated 2016 Oct 20]. NCBI Link Why does passing a bowel movement feel nice? Read on to learn about why it feels pleasurable, what makes a healthy poop, and problems linked to not… READ MORE Anytime I’m out in public I always feel like I have to poop. Like I have some sort of anxiety—I’m not sure exactly what it is. It’s starting to affect the way I think about things that I do but I don’t wanna do it because it involves travel and being around people I am afraid that my symptoms will come up. I'm embarrassed, so therefore I don’t do things that I would probably normally do or I try to make excuses and it’s starting to affect my mental state as far as doing things with people or wanting to do certain things, whatever the case may be. If you find yourself pooping more and having stomach problems after consuming dairy products, lactose intolerance may be to blame. 7. Celiac disease