Causes for Mucus in Stool
Do you see mucus in your stool? Have you ever gone number two and noticed a jelly-like substance surrounding your feces? When you looked in the toilette, did you spot a bunch of whitish goo that had a stringy quality? If so, you wouldn’t be alone. Many people see mucus on their stool but don’t discuss it because of embarrassment.
Believe it or not, mucus is a normal part of the digestive system and is created by your body to help lubricate the intestines.
Seeing occasional mucus in your stool shouldn’t cause alarm, however, when an excess amount is present and/or it appears on a regular basis, it could be an indication that you have an underlying health problem.
So how do you know what’s an abnormal amount of mucus? Well, if you see the entirety of your stool encased in mucus or if it looks like a lot of puss is present, that’s a good indication something is up. Bear in mind that when your intestinal lining is inflamed, you’re more apt to produce excess mucus.
It is important to state that if you see blood in your stool, experience discomfort, bloating, fever, chills or abdominal pain, you should call your doctor right away and make an appointment. Your symptoms could be an indication of a serious medical problem.
Active bottoms should be particularly mindful of their bowel movements and what they see after being topped for obvious reasons.
What follows are 7 things you might know about mucus in your stool. The material offered below may help to shed light on what you are dealing with.
1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
We’ve explored Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in the past when we assessed important things to know about digestive health. Mucus as a symptom of IBS is common.
That’s because the large intestine may have difficulty passing stool and can become inflamed. Look for additional signs, such as bloating, diarrhea and excessive gas. These symptoms can happen all at once or in cycles.
To diagnose IBS, your doctor will likely want to know more about your history, including previous episodes where mucus surrounded your excrement.
2. Bowel Obstruction
While uncommon, bowel obstructions do happen. Should this be the cause of your toilette goo, it could be because your intestines are inflamed and swollen.
To compensate, your guts may be creating extra lubrication as a way of healing. There are a number of reasons an obstruction can happen, including a hardened stool, dehydration or even a tear in the intestinal wall. Some people have even had obstructions occur because of external objects.
Bowel obstructions can be life threatening so if you are in doubt, call your doctor right away or go to your nearest emergency room.
3. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
The term Inflammatory Bowel Disease is used to describe a family of disorders that often contain excess mucus when passing a stool.
Two examples of IBD include: Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. A common symptom of IBD’s is a weakened immune system. If you have Crohn’s disease, you will have a number of symptoms present. Visit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America to learn more.
Ulcerative Colitis is considered less serious but still requires medical attention. If you have this, your lower intestine and/or rectum may have sores (ulcers) that are surrounded by mucous to promote healing.
4. Anal Warts (HPV)
Anal warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus. In many instances, warts grow around the opening of the rectum (see our post on anal warts). If you have them, you can sometimes see or feel them.
You may know that warts can live outside of your rectum but did you know they can also grow deep inside of your butthole? They can and when they do, they often cause swelling, irritation and inflammation. This could be a reason why you see all that extra mucus in the toilette after you take a dump.
5. Proctitis
If you have experienced itching around the perimeter of your outer anus, it could be a sign that you have proctitis. If you have this condition, your rectum is likely swollen and may cause constipation.
Causes for proctitis are numerous, including some of the medical issues mentioned above. Other reasons could also include some type of intestinal infection, a virus or a random food borne pathogen.
Men who bottom may experience more challenges with proctitis because of strain on the anal wall. That’s why it’s important to be careful when riding a guy.
6. Hemorrhoids
When most people think of hemorrhoids, they often think of what they see or feel along the outer anus. What many do not know is that hemorrhoids can also happen deep inside of your rectum.
Should you have internal hemorrhoids, it is possible that your intestines are creating extra mucus to help pass excrement.
If you feel hemorrhoids on the outside, it doesn’t hurt to gently feel the inside of your hole as well. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a cream to help reduce swelling and prevent an infection.
7. Diverticulitis
When you have diverticulitis, it means you have developed pouches along the wall of your colon. Sometimes, these pouches become infected, which causes your body to create excess mucus.
The medical community isn’t totally in agreement about what causes these pouches to form; although there is some evidence to suggest a low fiber diet may play an important role. There are a number of symptoms that can accompany diverticulitis, including fever, pain, diarrhea and changes in appetite.
Talking to Your Doctor
All of the reasons for mucus in your stool mentioned above need to be treated by a medical doctor. The only way to know if you suffer from one of these conditions is by having an examination.
A great book to consider picking up is Digestive Wellness by Dr. Elizabeth Lipski. Inside, you’ll find lots of useful information on how your digestive system works and how to keep it in top form.
FYI: There are not mentioned here for mucus covered poo. When in doubt, consult with your physician.
