Stool changes
Key facts
- Normally, stools (faeces or poo) are soft, sausage-shaped and easy to pass, and light to dark brown in colour.
- The colour of your stool is influenced by what you eat and drink, the medicines you take and how long it takes for food to move through your digestive system.
- Changes to be aware of include how long it takes to empty your bowels, seeing blood or worms in your stools, or changes in your stools' colour, texture and frequency.
- You might see bright blood in your stool if you have anal fissures (tears in the skin around the anus) or haemorrhoids.
- Stool changes in adults can suggest a medical condition and may need further investigation by your doctor.
What are stool changes?
Normally, stools (faeces or poo) are soft, sausage-shaped and easy to pass. It should take about a minute to empty your bowel. The volume and frequency of bowel movements varies from person to person — from 3 times per day to 3 times per week is normal.
Changes to be aware of include how long it takes to empty your bowels, seeing blood or worms in your stools, or changes in:
- colour
- texture
- shape
- frequency
What colour should my stool be?
In adults, stools are normally light to dark brown in colour. The colour depends on what you eat and drink, any medicines you’ve taken and how long food has spent in your digestive system.
Some foods (such as beetroot) can affect stool colour, but if your stools are black, very light grey or pale, you should visit your doctor.
What texture should my stool be?
Checking your stool’s texture is important. Stools can vary from loose to hard. If you eat foods high in fibre and drink plenty of water, your stools should be soft and easy to pass.
If you have diarrhoea or constipation for more than 2 to 3 days, or you find blood in your stools, see your doctor.
What is the Bristol stool chart?
The Bristol stool chart is used by doctors and other health professionals to assess stool texture. Stool texture is classified from type 1, small hard lumps, to type 7, completely liquid. A healthy stool is typically type 3 or type 4, which is sausage-shaped with minimal cracks.
Your doctor or dietician may ask you to use the chart to identify the texture of your stools so they can better understand your symptoms.
What if I see blood in my stools?
If you notice bright red blood on the toilet paper after a bowel motion, it might be due to haemorrhoids or small tears around your anus (fissures). It's best to see your doctor to check the cause of the bleeding.
If you have large amounts of blood in your stools, or your stools look black, see your doctor right away.
If you see lots of blood in your stools and feel faint, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
What if I see worms in my stools?
‘Worms’ is a term used for a range of parasites that can affect your digestive tract (gut). If you become infected, the eggs travel to your bowels where they hatch into worms. Sometimes you can see them on the stool.
The most common symptom of worms is itching around your anus. Worms are easily treated by your doctor.
Learn more about worms in your stools, what they look like and how to treat them.
Stool changes in children
Examining your children’s stools is a good way to check on your children’s health.
Stools in young babies can vary in firmness and frequency from those in older children and adults. This is especially true for babies who are exclusively breastfed. Breastfed babies usually pass soft stools anywhere from 7 times per day to once per week. Bottle-fed babies usually have a bowel movement at least every 2 to 3 days.
Stools in children should look similar to those in adults and be soft, brown and passed without difficulty.
You should take your child to a doctor if they:
- have white, red or black stools
- have diarrhoea for more than a few days
- experience soiling (poo accidents) after they are toilet trained
- experience pain or bleeding when passing stools
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Last reviewed: June 2022
