What Does Stringy Poop Mean?
The shape and texture of your poop can give you important clues about what’s happening inside your digestive system. Normal, healthy poop is usually medium to light brown, soft, and shaped like a sausage or a snake. It should hold its form and be easy to pass.
If your poop suddenly looks stringy — meaning it’s much thinner than usual, almost like a ribbon or about the width of a pencil — it may be a sign that something inside your digestive system has changed. Sometimes, the cause can be harmless, but in other cases, stringy stools could mean that there’s an underlying issue.
Why Is My Poop Stringy?
If your poop is narrow or stringy once in a while, it’s usually nothing to worry about. Suneeta Krishnareddy, a gastroenterologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association, says that the most common reason for stringy poop is your diet — usually because you’re not eating enough fiber. But if it happens often or doesn’t go away, it may be a sign of a minor or more serious health condition, including:
Constipation
If you poop less than three times a week, you may be dealing with constipation. This happens when stool moves too slowly through your digestive system, giving your intestines more time to absorb water from it, which makes it drier and harder to pass.
Constipation doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some, it could mean hard, lumpy stools. Others might have narrow or pencil-thin stools — though, this isn’t always a sign of constipation.
Constipation is usually caused by lifestyle changes, medications, or other medical conditions. The most common causes are not eating enough fiber or drinking enough water, but pregnancy, travel, and changes in your hormone levels can also play a role.
If your poop is narrow or stringy all the time or you notice it getting thinner gradually, you should let your doctor know.
If constipation is causing your narrow poop, you might also have these symptoms:
- Belly cramps or pain
- Bloating or gas
- Feeling tired or low energy
- Low appetite
- Straining when you poop
- Feeling like you can’t fully empty your bowels
You may think that the easiest way to treat constipation is to take an over-the-counter laxative, but be careful with these medications. Taking them too often can make things worse. Instead, talk to your doctor to make sure it’s the best treatment for you.
Simple ways to ease constipation without laxatives include:
- Eat at least 25 grams of fiber a day.
- Eat more whole grains, fresh fruits, and veggies.
- Exercise regularly.
- Drink more water.
Colorectal cancer
While gradually narrowing stools can sometimes be a symptom of colon cancer, they’re more often caused by other, much less serious conditions.
In some cases, colon cancer can make your bowel narrower. When this happens, stool has less space to move through and may come out looking thinner or even pencil-like. If you notice any changes to your poop, especially over the long-term, talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested for colorectal cancer.
If colorectal cancer is the cause of your narrow stool, you might also notice other symptoms, including:
- Blood in or on your stool
- Changes in your poop habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or bowel incontinence (poop leaks)
- Anemia (low iron levels)
- Belly pain or bloating
- Unexplained weight loss
- Vomiting
Treatment for colon cancer may include surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
Anal cancer
A change in the shape of your stool, especially if it becomes consistently narrow, could be a sign of anal cancer — though, it is very uncommon. Anal cancer starts in your anus — the outer part of your rectum from where poop leaves your body.
Most cases are linked to an infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV).
If anal cancer is the cause of your narrow bowel movements, you may also notice other symptoms, including:
- Pain, bleeding, or itching or a “full” feeling in your rectum
- Unusual rectal discharge
- Lumps around the opening of your anus
- Swollen lymph nodes around your anus
Anal cancer is usually treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Irritable bowel syndrome
Changes in the shape or size of your poop can sometimes be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that affects your digestive system, often causing gas, bloating, and changes in your bathroom habits. With IBS, your stool may look smaller or narrower than normal. Its texture can also change. You may also have diarrhea that looks loose or stringy.
If irritable bowel syndrome is the cause of your narrow stool, you might also notice symptoms such as:
- Constipation
- Gas
- Bloating
- Mucus in your poop
- Strong urge to go
- Belly cramps that ease after you poop
- Feeling like you have to poop again right after using the bathroom
One of the best ways to manage IBS is by getting more fiber in your diet. Soluble fiber found in foods such as fresh apples, oranges, and beans can ease constipation and diarrhea. Insoluble fiber in foods such as whole grains can bulk up your stool so it passes more easily.
Stress may also trigger IBS episodes. Finding healthy ways to manage stress, such as regular exercise, may help with your symptoms.
Parasitic gut infections
Parasites, such as tiny worms, can sometimes get into your gut and cause thin, stringy bowel movements or stringy, loose diarrhea.
One common type is roundworms. They live in soil and can enter your body if you eat food or drink water that’s contaminated.
Roundworms are more common in hot, humid parts of the world, underdeveloped countries, and places with poor sanitation.
If roundworms are causing your stringy, thin poop, you may also notice symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing or wheezing
- Belly pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Seeing actual worms in your poop
If the worms stick around in your gut for a long time, they can block your bowels. Signs of a blockage are severe belly pain and vomiting. If this happens, get help from a doctor right away.
If you think you or your child might have a parasitic infection or worms, call your doctor as soon as possible.
Your doctor may prescribe the drug albendazole to get rid of the roundworms and their eggs.
Is stringy poop normal in newborns?
Babies often have loose stools because their digestive systems are still developing. If your baby is breastfed, their poop might sometimes look string-like or even a bit mucusy — which is normal. But if you notice a lot of mucus, blood, or anything that seems unusual, it’s best to check in with your pediatrician.
As your child gets older, Krishnareddy recommends that parents normalize conversations about poop. “Ask them, ‘Hey, did you go to the bathroom today? Was it normal?’” she says. “Then it won’t feel weird for them to bring it up if something is wrong.”
When to See a Doctor for Stringy Poop
Having stringy poop once in a while is usually nothing to worry about. But if you notice changes to the shape or consistency of your poop that last longer than a week or two, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor.
“Even if you’ve been having these kinds of abnormal bowel movements your whole life, it’s still worth seeing a physician to make sure we haven’t missed something,” Krishnareddy says. “A lot of people just ignore their symptoms because they think it’s their normal.”
When changes in your stool are paired with blood or severe belly pain, it could be a sign of a more serious issue, so you should get medical help right away. Krishnareddy says you should also see your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as vomiting, weight loss, or changes in appetite.
How Is Stringy Poop Diagnosed?
Stringy poop can sometimes be a symptom of another condition. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will ask about your health history and symptoms, including your diet and how often you go to the bathroom. They may also ask you to describe your bowel movements using the Bristol stool chart — a tool doctors use to classify poop by its shape, texture, and consistency. The chart has seven types, ranging from small, hard pellets to watery diarrhea, and it can give helpful clues about how your digestive system is working.
Depending on your symptoms and other factors, such as your age, your doctor may order tests to get a better look inside your digestive tract. These might include stool tests, CT colonography, a colonoscopy, or imaging tests to check for a bowel obstruction.
Takeaways
Having stringy poop every once in a while usually isn’t anything to worry about. But if the shape or texture of your stool changes and doesn’t go back to normal after a few weeks, it could be a sign of something more serious. Always talk to your doctor about ongoing changes in your bowel habits — especially if they happen with blood in your poop or belly pain. To keep your digestive system working well, make sure to stay hydrated, eat more fiber, and exercise regularly.
Stringy Poop FAQs
Does IBS cause narrow stools?
Yes, IBS can sometimes make your stool narrow, but it usually comes with other symptoms, such as constipation, gas, or bloating.
Can stress cause stringy poop?
Yes. If your bathroom habits have changed and your doctor has ruled out other medical conditions, stress could be the cause.
What are fiber strings in poop?
Fiber strings in poop are bits of undigested vegetable or plant material. Seeing them is normal, especially if you eat a lot of high-fiber foods.
Do pencil-thin stools always mean cancer?
No. While narrow stools can sometimes be linked to colorectal or anal cancer, most of the time they’re caused by less serious conditions.
