When to See a Doctor About Your Poop

People wait. They wait because the subject feels awkward, because it is probably nothing, because they aren't sure who to call. This article doesn't tell you what a change means. No article can. It collects what public health institutions say about when to raise bowel changes with a doctor, and it covers the practical part: who to see and how to prepare.

Do you need a reason to ask a doctor about your poop?

No. If you have a question about what you are seeing, that is enough. The National Institute on Aging says that worrying about your symptoms is not a sign of weakness, and that being honest about what you are experiencing is not complaining.

Clinicians ask about bowel habits as a matter of routine. The questions NIDDK says doctors ask include how often you have a bowel movement and what your stools look like. It is an ordinary conversation for them, even if it isn't for you.

A question about your own body is reason enough to ask.

What changes do health sources say to raise with a doctor?

Blood in or on your stool, black or tarry stool, a change in bowel habits that lasts, and symptoms that don't go away are the ones public health sources name most often.

Here is what each institution says, in its own terms.

• The CDC lists symptoms of colorectal cancer that include a change in bowel habits, blood in or on your stool, diarrhea, constipation or a feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way, abdominal pain or cramps that don't go away, and weight loss you can't explain. Its guidance is to talk to your doctor if you have any of them.
• NIDDK says to see a doctor about constipation if your symptoms do not go away with self-care or you have a family history of colon or rectal cancer. It says to see one right away if constipation comes with bleeding from your rectum, blood in your stool, constant abdominal pain, inability to pass gas, vomiting, fever, lower back pain or losing weight without trying.
• NIDDK also says adults should talk with a doctor right away about diarrhea with symptoms such as lasting more than 2 days, a high fever, or six or more loose stools a day.
• MedlinePlus says to contact a provider right away if you notice blood or changes in the color of your stool, and to contact one if your stools are not their normal brown color for several days.
• The NHS, in the United Kingdom, advises seeing a GP if you have had blood in your poo for 3 weeks, or if your poo has been softer, thinner or longer than normal for 3 weeks.

2 days

Diarrhea lasting longer than this is something adults should talk with a doctor about right awayNIDDK

3 weeks

Stool that has been softer, thinner or longer than normal for this long is a reason to see a GPNHS (United Kingdom)

45

The age at which most people should begin screening for colorectal cancerCDC

The CDC's own caveat is worth repeating: these symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer. Sorting out which is what an appointment is for.

What if you have no symptoms at all?

Screening is for people without symptoms. The CDC says most people should begin screening for colorectal cancer at age 45, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for adults aged 45 to 75.

A screening test looks for a disease when a person doesn't have symptoms, the CDC explains, and it notes elsewhere that polyps and colorectal cancer don't always cause symptoms. The tests it lists are stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy and CT colonography. Which test, and when, is a conversation to have with a clinician.

The Task Force recommendation, issued in May 2021, covers adults aged 45 to 49 and 50 to 75, and says clinicians should selectively offer screening to adults aged 76 to 85.

Who do you see: primary care or a gastroenterologist?

A primary care clinician is the usual first stop, and some insurance plans require a referral from one before you see a specialist. A gastroenterologist is the physician who specializes in the digestive system.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, a gastroenterologist is a physician with dedicated training in managing diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Whether you can book one directly depends on your plan: HealthCare.gov notes that many HMOs require a referral first. Our guides cover how referrals work and how to find a gastroenterologist near you.

What happens when you get checked?

A clinician asks about your history, may examine you, and may order tests. NIDDK says doctors use your medical and family history, a physical exam or medical tests to find the cause of a bowel problem.

The tests NIDDK lists for constipation, as one example, include blood tests, stool tests and, in some cases, procedures such as colonoscopy. Stool tests can show the presence of blood and signs of infection and inflammation. This is analysis that a clinician orders and interprets, and it is what turns an observation into an answer.

How do you prepare for the appointment?

Bring specifics: what changed, when it started, how often it happens, and what your stools look like. A short written record covers all four.

The National Institute on Aging recommends making notes about your symptoms before you call or visit, and its guide to preparing for an appointment suggests listing your concerns in order of priority. Here is how to keep a simple stool diary, and what the Bristol stool scale describes, which gives you and the clinician a shared vocabulary.

Where Stooly fits

Stooly is a healthcare navigation platform. It can't tell you whether to see a doctor, and it doesn't assess symptoms. It is designed for the step after you decide to: finding a gastroenterologist or another doctor who fits your plan, your location and your preferences.