Maybe you've struggled through a bout of constipation recently and now you've just experienced some relief, only to find that your "output" is far more voluminous than you could have expected. The poop might even be clogging the toilet and making it difficult to flush everything at once. Is this healthy?
There are a few reasons why this might happen. In general, if it's only an occasional event without any other symptoms, then it's probably tougher on your plumbing than on your body and nothing to worry about. But in some cases, it could be a health concern, says Pratima Dibba, MD, a gastroenterologist with Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York City.
"This situation is likely related to diet or possibly constipation, since retention of large amounts of stool with eventual evacuation could be large enough to clog the toilet," she says.
Here are five potential causes and what you need to know about each one.
1. Diet and Fluid Intake
A particularly large meal can result in a bigger stool, especially if you haven't had enough fluids, says Aerial Petty, DO, an urgent care and family medicine physician at MedStar Health in Washington, DC.
Dehydration can lead to large, hard stools that are difficult to pass, and this means they might get stuck in your system for a longer time, resulting in bigger stools when you do have a bowel movement. If you notice that a larger stool is more difficult to pass and you're straining more than usual, dehydration could be a factor.
Another issue related to diet can be changes in fiber intake, says Taylor Bachert, DO, a family medicine practitioner at Community Health Network in Greenwood, Indiana. Fiber adds bulk to your stools, which helps them move through the digestive system more efficiently. When your diet lacks fiber, it can contribute to a slowdown and harder stools that take longer to pass. On the flip side, too much fiber can add bulk and make stools larger, potentially leading to toilet cloggers.
2. Constipation
Constipation means you have fewer than three bowel movements per week, and you may have hard or dry stools when you do have a bowel movement.
In addition to dietary factors, constipation can arise from a number of other causes, says Dr. Bachert, which may include:
Lack of physical activity
Ignoring the urge to go, or holding in bowel movements
Age, since constipation may be more common in older adults
Health conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or hyperthyroidism
Even changes in your regular routine, such as traveling or going to bed at a different time, might interrupt your schedule and lead to temporary constipation.
3. Obstipation From Medications
Occasional constipation is common, but when it becomes severe, patient may experience an impaction with an inability to pass stool or gas, often accompanied by significant pain and discomfort.
One potential cause is medication, she says. Several types of meds might contribute to obstipation (obstinate constipation), particularly if you're taking more than one with this side effect. Examples are pain medication, antidepressants, antihistamines, some blood pressure medications, and iron pills.
If you're on medication and you're experiencing significant constipation, she suggests talking with your doctor to see if that might be what's causing the problem.
4. Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
In some cases, constipation might arise from pelvic floor dysfunction. With this condition, the muscles of the pelvic floor are unable to relax effectively, which makes it difficult to pass stool. Instead, they might contract, which slows your ability to pass stool, says Bachert. Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction include:
Straining during bowel movements
Feeling like the bowel movement is incomplete
Need to change positions on the toilet to pass stool
Chronic pelvic pain
Stool leakage
Pain during bowel movements
In addition to constipation issues, you may notice other symptoms, such as urinary incontinence, pain during sex, and a general feeling of pain or pressure in the pelvis.
5. Bowel Obstruction
Another potential cause of inability to pass stool is a bowel blockage of some kind, says Dr. Dibba. Blockages can arise from a mass in the colon, abnormal twisting within the intestines, or an abdominal adhesion, which is when scar tissue forms within the colon and prevents the normal passage of food and waste.
"These are considered more serious health issues, and may constitute an emergency in some cases," says Dr. Petty. Symptoms that should prompt a more urgent doctor’s visit, says Petty, include:
Black or bloody stool
Inability to pass gas
Fever
General feeling of being unwell
Severe abdominal pain and cramping
Vomiting
"If you're just experiencing some constipation occasionally and it resolves itself, that's okay," Petty says. "But if you have these other symptoms, an emergency visit is probably needed."
The Takeaway
A toilet-clogging poop usually comes as a result of temporary constipation or a dietary change, but could be a sign of a more serious issue.
Constipation can be caused by medication, pelvic floor dysfunction, or a bowel obstruction.
If your bowel movements are accompanied by significant pain or nausea, or you’re generally feeling unwell, it's important to see a health provider promptly.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.
Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.
She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.
Elizabeth Millard is a freelance writer based in northern Minnesota. She focuses on health, wellness, and fitness, and has written for Runner's World, Bicycling, Self, Women's Health, Men's Health, Prevention, Experience Life, and more. She is an American Council on Exercise–certified personal trainer and a Yoga Alliance-registered yoga teacher. She graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in English.
