What to Do, Causes, Getting Help

A stool that gets stuck halfway out can be a sign of constipation or fecal impaction. Walking around, drinking water, or taking a laxative can often help you pass a hard stool. But some signs can point to a medical emergency.

Squirming to pass a stool is anything but pleasant. You feel the urge to go, yet nothing comes. Or the poop makes its way to the opening of your anus, but gets stuck halfway out.

This happens to a lot of people. It’s even common in babies as they switch from a liquid diet to solid foods.

Impacted stool can cause poop to get stuck. But having your poop stuck halfway out doesn’t always point to impaction. Every day constipation is another possible culprit.

Poop stuck halfway out your anal canal is an awkward feeling, but it isn’t necessarily an emergency. Some causes might require medical treatment, while others will resolve with home remedies.

Common causes of your poop stuck halfway out include:

Constipation

Constipation refers to passing fewer than three bowel movements a week or having difficulty fully passing stool. Symptoms include:

• hard, dry stools
• straining
• feeling that you haven’t emptied your rectum fully

Constipation can be chronic or infrequent, but is typically not a medical emergency. The only exception is when a blockage causes constipation, leading to impaction. This might include an intestinal blockage caused by:

• colon cancer
• rectal cancer
• another condition affecting your digestive tract

Since constipation causes stools to move at a slower pace, poop can get stuck halfway out.

Impacted stool

Impacted stool can also cause poop to get stuck. Also known as fecal impaction, this condition causes dry, hard stools too. It often results from prolonged constipation, which blocks stools in your rectum.

Impacted stool is a more serious condition. In fact, although extremely rare, it can be life threatening if left untreated and lead to a colon obstruction. Other signs of fecal impaction include:

• abdominal pain
• bloating
• diarrhea
• thin and bloody stools

Other medical conditions

Keep in mind that some gastrointestinal conditions have constipation as a symptom. If left untreated, these can also lead to impacted stool. Impaction might occur if you have:

• irritable bowel syndrome
• Hirschsprung’s disease
• Parkison’s disease
• inflammatory bowel conditions
• hypothyroidism
• nerve injury

Lifestyle and diet

Lifestyle habits can contribute to poop getting stuck halfway out. Some dietary and daily habits can cause constipation, such as a sedentary lifestyle and eating a low fiber diet.

Not drinking enough water also causes stools to become dry and hard, potentially causing poop to get stuck halfway out.

You can blame this discomfort on shifting hormones during pregnancy. An increase in the hormone progesterone relaxes your body’s muscles, causing stools to move slower through your intestinal tract.

The increase in progesterone often leads to constipation in pregnancy, causing poop to become stuck. Other causes also include:

• being less active while pregnant
• not drinking enough water
• eating too little fiber

During the first several months of life, a baby eats a liquid diet before transitioning to solid foods.

Sometimes, the transition from liquid to solids is a shock to their systems. And as a result, their poop becomes hard and dry until they adjust.

Home remedies and medical treatment can relieve poop that’s stuck halfway out. Possible solutions include:

Home remedies

Oftentimes, the condition is dry, hard stools, and not a medical emergency. Start by increasing your fiber intake, which makes it easier to pass tools. This includes eating more:

• fruits
• vegetables
• whole grains

You can also increase your water intake to keep stools soft, as well as increase physical activity. Exercise stimulates intestinal movement, making it easier to pass stools.

Over-the-counter medications

If you experience constipation, it might take a few days for home remedies to take effect. But the following over-the-counter medications (OTC) may relieve symptoms:

• suppositories
• enemas
• laxatives or stool softeners

Use laxatives as directed by your doctor, and for no more than 2 weeks. Overuse can worsen constipation.

Medical treatment and prescription medications

For chronic constipation, talk with a doctor about prescription drugs to regulate bowel activity. If you have an underlying gastrointestinal condition, treating it can help relieve constipation.

If prolonged constipation causes fecal impaction, a doctor may prescribe or recommend a suppository or enema to soften any stool present in your rectum.

Your doctor might even recommend a colonoscopy to look for possible blockages in your colon. If that’s the case, you might need surgery to remove the blockage.

If you have poop that’s stuck halfway out, avoid worsening the situation. Here’s what not to do:

Digging the stool out with your fingers

When your stool is stuck halfway out, manually removing it from your rectum might seem like a simple solution. But don’t insert your finger in the rectum.

Digging out the stool can damage the soft tissue at the opening of your anus, resulting in anal tears and bleeding. Only a doctor should manually remove poop from the rectum.

Forcing it out

You might feel the urge to strain and force the stool out. However, straining to empty your rectum can cause other conditions like hemorrhoids and anal fissures. These can cause bleeding and rectal pain.

If you have poop stuck halfway out, be patient. Start with home remedies like:

• moving around
• drinking water
• taking OTC suppositories or enemas
• increasing your fiber

For constipation, you can also take a laxative or stool softener.

Poop stuck halfway out isn’t usually a medical emergency. But it may be an emergency in the case of a severe fecal impaction.

Medical emergency

If waste can’t leave your body, you may develop:

• severe abdominal pain
• vomiting
• headache
• rapid heart rate
• dehydration
• fever
• confusion

Call 911 and go to the nearest emergency room if you develop any of these symptoms.

Poop stuck halfway out due to constipation is mostly uncomfortable and there’s a low risk of complications. In the case of fecal impaction, possible complications include:

• bowel ulceration
• hemorrhoids
• peritonitis (infection of your gastrointestinal system)
• low blood pressure
• loss of consciousness
• chills
• dizziness
• rapid heart rate

Here’s a look at several ways to prevent poop from getting stuck halfway out.

Constipation

To prevent constipation, increase your intake of fiber-rich foods. These include:

• fruits
• vegetables
• whole grains

You can also increase your fiber by taking a supplement.

Other ways to prevent constipation include increasing your fluid intake and being physically active on a regular basis.

Impacted stool

Impacted stool occurs after prolonged constipation or a blockage in your rectum. Take steps to keep bowel activity regular and avoid impaction. Call a doctor if your constipation does not improve.

A doctor can also determine whether you have an underlying health condition that causes constipation or a blockage. Treating the underlying condition helps restore bowel activity.

Having poop stuck halfway out can feel uncomfortable and embarrassing to talk about. But this condition happens to many people.

Oftentimes, poop that’s stuck is a simple fix. If it’s due to stool impaction, though, connect with a doctor to avoid serious complications.

Read this article in Spanish.

Hard Stool: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

While hard bowel movements happen to everyone from time to time, they can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition.

In a perfect world, your stool would be soft and easy to pass every time you need to have a bowel movement. However, it’s likely that from time to time you may have hard bowel movements.

These are more difficult to pass than soft bowel movements and can range from difficult to pass to altogether painful. Doctors may call hard stools constipation.

Examples of conditions that cause hard bowel movements include diverticular disease, intestinal obstructions, or hypothyroidism. If you have hard stools, there are ways you can make your stools easier to pass at home.

You can have hard stools for a lot of reasons. Sometimes, a combination of factors is to blame. Typically, a person’s stool is made from waste products and undigested food material that combines with water to be eliminated via the intestines.

This also requires motility, or gastrointestinal movement, to help stool move along the digestive tract for elimination.

A problem with any or several of these digestive processes can cause hard stool.

Medication-related causes

Sometimes hard stool is due to something you did (or didn’t) eat as well as medications you take. Examples include:

• aluminum- and calcium-containing antacids
• anticholinergics
• anticonvulsants to prevent seizures
• antispasmodics
• calcium channel blockers
• diuretics
• iron supplements
• medications used to treat depression
• medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease
• narcotic pain medicines

Diet- and lifestyle-related causes

Diet-related causes of hard stools include dehydration (not drinking enough water) and a low-fiber diet. Some potential lifestyle-related causes of hard stool include:

• changes to one’s diet
• changing medications
• not engaging in regular physical activity
• traveling

If a person frequently ignores the urge to have a bowel movement, this can cause stool to become harder to pass. This is because holding back bowel movements can make changes to the brain that affect the future urge to have a bowel movement.

Your stool can build up inside the digestive tract and become harder to pass.

Medical causes

Sometimes, an underlying medical condition can cause hard stools. Examples of these conditions include:

• aging
• anatomic problems with the digestive tract
• brain injuries
• celiac disease
• diverticulitis
• hormone-related conditions, such as hypothyroidism
• intestinal obstructions
• intestinal tumors
• Parkinson’s disease
• pregnancy
• proctitis, an inflammation of the prostate gland
• spinal cord injuries

Some of these conditions, such as an intestinal obstruction, can be a medical emergency. Because stool can’t get out, a person can experience life-threatening complications if the bowel leaks into the intestinal lining.

Hard stool with blood

If your stool is especially hard to pass, it’s not uncommon to see some streaking of blood present in the stool. Hard stool can create irritation and micro-tears in the intestinal lining that cause bleeding. Also, you can experience bleeding from somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract that may mean you see blood in your stool.

If the blood is more than streaking or continues beyond a day, see a doctor to make sure the blood-streaked stool isn’t a sign of an underlying medical condition.

Hard Black stool

Sometimes hard stool may appear black and tarry. This could indicate the presence of bleeding in a higher area of the digestive tract, such as the stomach or esophagus. Some medications you take, such as iron supplements, can also cause dark stools.

The most serious symptoms of hard stool are rectal bleeding or blood in your stool. These can require emergency medical attention if a person continues bleeding.

Other hard stool symptoms include:

• abdominal pain
• difficulty passing gas
• pain passing stools
• straining when passing stools

Many of these symptoms can make you afraid to pass any other stools. This fear can worsen constipation.

Hard stools can build up in the digestive tract, causing damage to its lining. Complications from hard stool can include:

• anal fissures
• fecal impaction
• hemorrhoids
• intestinal blockage
• rectal prolapse

Preventing these from occurring by keeping stool as soft as possible can help.

If you don’t have blood in your stool or severe pain, you may want to start with trying to soften your stool at home.

Home remedies

Examples of home remedies to soften stools include:

• Abdominal massage. Sometimes a stomach massage can help stimulate the bowels if they’re not moving enough to help stool digest more quickly. Rubbing the stomach in a circular motion can help.
• Drink more water. Increasing water in the digestive tract can make stool softer and easier to pass. A good sign that you’re drinking enough water is if your urine is pale yellow in color.
• Eat more fiber. Fiber can add bulk to the stool, which can stimulate the bowels and help move stool through the digestive tract. However, adding too much fiber at once can have the opposite effect and cause bloating and abdominal discomfort. Examples of excellent fiber sources include whole-wheat bread, black beans, berries or apples with the skins on, carrots, green peas, broccoli, almonds, and peanuts.
• Avoid empty-calorie, low-fiber foods. Many low-fiber foods don’t add a lot of nutritional value to your diet. Avoid fast food, processed foods, and chips.
• Exercise. Physical activity can have a bowel-stimulating effect on the body.

Hard poop medical treatment

Examples of medications a doctor may prescribe or recommend include:

• Bulk-forming agents. Examples include Citrucel or FiberCon. These medications help to add bulk to stool, making it easier to pass.
• Osmotic agents. Examples include MiraLAX. These medications attract water to the stool, making it easier to pass.
• Stool softeners.Examples include docusate sodium (Colace). This helps to soften hard stool so it isn’t so hard to pass.

Ideally, these methods are a short-term solution. If your hard stool causes significant medical problems, such as an intestinal blockage or rectal prolapse, you may require surgery. That is usually a last attempt to correct an underlying problem.

See a doctor if you haven’t had a bowel movement in four days. You may need to seek emergency medical attention if you see blood in your stool that seems to be increasing in amount.

Otherwise, you should seek medical help if your hard stools are bothering you. If you’re having symptoms like bloating, pain, and discomfort, talking to a doctor can help.

Hard poop can be a symptom of lifestyle factors, medications taken, or an underlying medical condition. There are several different approaches to treatment that can make stool easier to pass.

Starting these sooner rather than later can help prevent serious medical problems, such as a bowel obstruction.

How many days can constipation last and what to do

How many days of stool retention in adults can be considered constipation?

How many days of stool retention in adults can be considered constipation?

Constipation is a violation of the function of bowel movement, in which the intervals between defecation acts increase to 3 days or more, and there is also significant physical discomfort in the process of bowel movement ^{1, 3} .

There is no unambiguous answer to the question of how many days of stool retention in an adult can be considered constipation, and cannot be. The normal rhythm of bowel movements for a person can be determined by the nature of nutrition and other individual characteristics. The use of a large amount of food containing coarse vegetable fiber, while limiting protein products, may be accompanied by two to three bowel movements per day ⁵ .

On a mixed diet, daily stools in the morning are normal. In those whose diet is dominated by refined foods, the frequency of bowel movements (up to 3 per week) and the volume of feces are simultaneously reduced. Stool frequency is not a cause for concern as long as bowel movements are not accompanied by discomfort ⁵ .

On a mixed diet, daily stools in the morning are normal. In those whose diet is dominated by refined foods, the frequency of bowel movements (up to 3 per week) and the volume of feces are simultaneously reduced. Stool frequency is not a cause for concern as long as bowel movements are not accompanied by discomfort ⁵ .

Main causes and symptoms
Main causes and symptoms

In healthy adults, ^{1, 5} can provoke stool retention:

psychogenic
causes – anxiety and depression

medication

physical inactivity

9000 6

reduction in the proportion of products containing coarse vegetable fiber in the diet

The main symptom of constipation is the absence of voluntary defecation
for several days. Constipation is also considered to be the need to push with the urge to defecate with soft feces, the appearance of hard fragmented stools, a significant increase in the diameter and density of the fecal cylinder, which, when separated, injures the mucous membrane of the rectum and anus, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestine ⁵ . It is not uncommon for a person to have to help himself manually by pressing his hand
on the area of ​​the pelvic floor, removing the stool with his finger ⁴ .

No matter how long constipation lasts in an adult, the absence of stool and discomfort during bowel movements may not be considered by the patient as a sufficient reason to visit a doctor
, although in fact this is not the case ^{1, 3} . It is often not customary to talk about the problem of constipation in general, and it happens that the Internet becomes the only “consultant” for the patient.

No matter how long constipation lasts in an adult, the absence of stool and discomfort during bowel movements may not be considered by the patient as a sufficient reason to visit a doctor
, although in fact this is not the case ^{1, 3} . It is often not customary to talk about the problem of constipation in general, and it happens that the Internet becomes the only “consultant” for the patient.

What to do with stool retention?
What to do with stool retention?

Consider the algorithm of actions in cases where constipation lasts for several days in a healthy adult.

The first and most important thing to do is to remember how often a bowel movement is normal and how much your own feelings have changed when trying to go to the toilet. It is worth talking about constipation
in cases where the deviation from the individual norm is
48 hours or more, and there are also characteristic symptoms (hard stools, pain during bowel movements, the need to push, etc.) ^{1, 4, 5} .

If problems with a chair have arisen for the first time, it is necessary, if possible, to determine the cause of the delay in the chair. If there have already been difficulties with defecation, it is better to contact a specialized gastroenterologist and undergo the necessary examination. Treatment of constipation should be comprehensive. In addition to taking laxatives, it includes recommendations for lifestyle and dietary changes ^{1, 3-5} .

Danger of stool retention
Danger of stool retention

Stretching of the smooth muscle fibers of the intestinal wall by accumulating fecal masses, including suppression of the urge to defecate, may contribute to constipation ⁸ .

Constipation is not just stool retention
Constipation is not just stool retention

Constipation has a significant negative impact on the patient’s quality of life ^{1, 3} .

Constipation leads to unpleasant symptoms that are not directly related to the act of defecation, such as lethargy, feeling of heaviness and fullness in the abdomen, decreased mood ⁶ .

Constipation fixes patients’ attention on bowel function: they begin to pay too much attention to the quantity and quality of stools ⁶ .

Long term constipation management

Recurring bowel problems are cause for concern and action. To do this, first of all, you need to contact a doctor who will determine the cause of constipation and give the necessary recommendations, including on lifestyle modification and nutrition correction ^{1, 4, 5} :

In addition to lifestyle recommendations, your doctor may also prescribe laxatives ^{1, 4, 5} .

increase the amount of foods containing coarse vegetable fiber in the diet: vegetables, fruits, bran;

drink at least 2 liters of fluid per day;

increase physical activity.

One of the laxatives is Guttalax®

⁹ .

Its active ingredient, sodium picosulfate, has a dual mechanism of action: it not only promotes colon peristalsis, but also helps soften stools ⁹ . In addition, Guttalax® is available in drops, which allows you to individually select the appropriate dose of laxative ⁹ . It is also worth noting that Guttalax® is not only not addictive when taken in recommended doses, but also does not require a course of administration – it can be used once as needed, exactly when there is such a need ⁹ . With prolonged constipation, it is imperative to consult a doctor who will determine the cause of constipation and give recommendations, and not resort to self-medication.

More about the drug

Comparative studies show that the effectiveness of colon cleansing when using a low-volume regimen did not suffer, and overall tolerability improved ⁹ .

Bisacodyl is a local laxative that acts specifically in the large intestine ¹⁰ . Bisacodyl enhances peristalsis and promotes the accumulation of water and electrolytes in the lumen of the colon. This leads to stimulation of defecation, reduction of evacuation time and softening of the stool. Bisacodyl is the active ingredient in Guttalax® Express ¹⁰ .

CONTRAINDICATIONS. IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSULT WITH A SPECIALIST.

Highest fiber foods: top 22

Fiber has a lot of useful properties. It reduces the feeling of hunger, which helps not to overeat, cleanses the body, regulates the content of sugar and cholesterol in the blood. And this is only a small part of the benefits that fiber brings to the body.

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If you’re looking to increase your fiber intake, here’s a list of 22 fiber foods to include in your diet.

Contents of the article

We talk about diets and weight loss solely to inform readers. The editors remind: it is dangerous to change your lifestyle and lose weight without full-time consultation with a specialist, risk assessment and identification of contraindications.

Fiber helps support the digestive system, which can help with weight loss and prevent certain illnesses such as constipation. Nutritionists recommend eating about 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories each day. Unfortunately, with the modern rhythm of life, we are not always able to eat balanced food rich in fiber fibers. Increasing your fiber intake, however, is pretty easy, all you have to do is include certain foods in your diet.

What is fiber

Fiber is a dietary fiber or carbohydrate that is not digested by the body, but is used by bacteria in the intestinal microflora to perform a number of functions. Fiber is found in plant products and is divided into two types: soluble and insoluble.

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Fiber benefits

Blood sugar control

Fiber is especially recommended for people with diabetes as it helps stabilize blood sugar levels. It works like this: it simply takes longer for the body to digest foods high in dietary fiber.

Lowers cholesterol

Fiber inhibits the absorption of cholesterol and lowers its level in the blood. It is important to include it in your diet if you have problems with cholesterol (but only after consulting a doctor).

Reduces the risk of gastrointestinal cancer

Fiber has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract and can protect it from certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer.

Normalizes metabolism

Foods high in fiber help to normalize and slow down the process of digestion of food, so we feel full longer and do not overeat. And this, in turn, helps to lose weight.

Stimulates the intestines

If you have frequent constipation, you should definitely include fiber in your diet. It increases the volume of the digestive tract, which perfectly stimulates the intestines.

List of foods with fiber

Broccoli

Broccoli is rich in vitamins C and K, as well as B vitamins, folic acid, manganese, iron. It also contains a lot of protein compared to most other vegetables.

Fiber content: 2.6 g per 100 g of broccoli.

Almonds

Almonds contain many nutrients, among which the most useful are vitamin E, fats, magnesium, manganese. Almonds can be eaten as they are, or you can use almond flour for baking.

Fiber content: 13.3 g per 100 g of almonds.

Dark Chocolate

If you love chocolate, we have good news: dark chocolate contains a lot of nutrients. In addition, it is rich in antioxidants. But it is important to choose the right dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content.

Fiber content: 10.9 g per 100 g of chocolate.

Bananas

Bananas are a source of vitamins C and B6, potassium, and other nutrients. Unripe bananas are high in resistant starch, which acts as fiber and improves digestion.

Fiber content: 2.6 g per 100 g bananas.

Artichokes

The artichoke is rich in nutrients and is one of the leaders in the vegetable category in terms of fiber content.

Fiber content: 5.4 g per 100 g of artichokes.

Avocado

This fruit contains vitamins C and E, B vitamins, as well as a lot of magnesium and potassium. Plus, now you can find many interesting recipes with avocados.

Fiber content: 6.7 g per 100 g avocado.

Pear

The pear is a popular and affordable fruit that is one of the best sources of fiber.

Fiber content: 3.1 g per 100 g of pears.

Apples

Apples are another source of fiber available to us all year round. They contain pectin, the so-called body cleaner, which helps cleanse it of toxins.

Fiber content: 2.4 g per 100 g of apples.

Popcorn

A popular and tasty snack that we usually accompany watching movies and TV shows, it is also incredibly rich in fiber. However, you should not add too much oil to popcorn, so as not to neutralize all the benefits.

Fiber content: 14.4 g per 100 g of popcorn.

Strawberries

In addition to fiber, strawberries also contain vitamin C, many nutrients and antioxidants. We advise you to try making banana and strawberry smoothies for yourself – a great tandem!

Fiber content: 2 g per 100 g of strawberries.

Raspberry

Another delicious fiber-rich berry is the raspberry. It also contains manganese and vitamin C. Raspberries make an excellent nutritional supplement, for example for breakfast.

Fiber content: 6.5 g per 100 g raspberries.

Brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts are rich not only in fiber, but also in vitamin K, folic acid, potassium and powerful antioxidants. Moreover, this vegetable retains most of its nutrients even after heat treatment.

Fiber content: 3.7 g per 100 g Brussels sprouts.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas are one of the most fiber-rich legumes. You can make hummus out of it and spread it on bread or vegetables, add it to salads.

Fiber content: 7.6 g per 100 g of chickpeas.

Quinoa

Fiber, protein, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, antioxidants are just some of the beneficial nutrients found in quinoa.

Fiber content: 2.8g per 100g quinoa.

Peas

Peas, like other legumes, are rich in soluble fiber, which forms gel-like substances. The latter, in turn, help to remove bile from the body.

Fiber content: 8.3 g per 100 g of peas.

Oats

One of the healthiest grains, oats are rich in soluble fiber. And it is known to have a positive effect on blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Fiber content: 10.1 g per 100 g of oats.

Carrots

Carrots are rich in vitamins K, B6, A, as well as magnesium and beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant.

Fiber content: 2.8 g per 100 g of carrots.

Beetroot

This root crop contains a large amount of iron, copper, manganese, folic acid, potassium. It also contains inorganic nitrates that can normalize blood pressure.

Fiber content: 2.8 g per 100 g of beets.

Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato contains B vitamins, beta-carotene and minerals.

Fiber content: 2.5 g per 100 g potatoes.

Lentils

Lentils contain a lot of protein. It can be used to make a delicious, nutritious and healthy soup flavored with coriander and turmeric.

Fiber content: 7.3 g per 100 g of lentils.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are one of the most popular products among nutritionists. And this is not just because they are rich in fiber, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium.

Fiber content: 34.4g per 100g chia seeds.

Beans

Beans are a valuable source of fiber. The pectin contained in it prolongs the feeling of satiety and slows down the process of digestion of food, which contributes to a longer absorption of nutrients.