Why does my stool become sticky? 8 reasons and how to solve the problem
Should I worry about this symptom?
You've probably heard that the appearance of your poop says a lot about your gut health. It's true: The color and consistency of your feces can indicate problems like infections or chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disease. So the next time you notice your poop sticking to the toilet, you might want to consider what's going on inside. So why does your poop get sticky?
It turns out that sticky stools can be a sign of a variety of causes, ranging from harmless diets to more serious diseases. MigNews will share the opinion of gastroenterologist Elena Ivanina on this matter.
Why stools become sticky: fat malabsorption
Sticky stools can be a sign that your body isn’t absorbing fats properly, a condition known as fat malabsorption. This results in excess fat in your stool, a condition known as steatorrhea. “If fat isn’t absorbed in the intestines and ends up in excess in your stool, the fat makes your stool greasy and sticky,” says Dr. Ivanina. It can also lead to smellier, looser stools that are pale in color (like clay) and float in the toilet.
Many possible causes of fat malabsorption can lead to sticky stools, including:
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (deficiency of digestive enzymes that digest fats, such as lipases);
- Celiac disease (an autoimmune disease of the gastrointestinal tract that causes the inability to properly digest gluten);
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis that cause inflammation and damage to the intestine).
“Therefore, a thorough examination is the key to treatment,” she adds.
Why you have sticky stools: too much fat in your diet
Even if your digestive system is in perfect condition, you can still experience discomfort if you eat a lot of high-fat foods in a short period of time, including fried foods, certain types and varieties of meat, or high-fat dairy products. “If you overload your gut with the ability to digest and absorb fats, they will be present in excess in your stool,” says Dr. Ivanina. Similar to steatorrhea, excess fat can make your stool oily and sticky.
How to treat it: Pay attention to the number of high-fat foods you eat throughout the day. Then, “reduce the amount of fat in your diet, especially saturated fat from animal products (like red meat) and dairy products,” says Dr. Ivanina. Of course, it's okay to indulge in a big meal every now and then. Just consider spacing out your meals to give your stomach a chance to rest.
Why stool becomes sticky: lactose intolerance
Do you experience painful gas, diarrhea, and bloating after eating dairy products? You may be lactose intolerant (the inability to properly digest a sugar called lactose, which is found in milk). But sometimes, instead of diarrhea, you may experience sticky stools after eating cheese or ice cream.
“If your body can’t digest lactose, dairy products will pass through your intestines undigested, causing fluid retention,” says Dr. Ivananina. This can lead to diarrhea and sticky stools, she says. While there are several possible causes of this intolerance, it’s most often related to the body’s lack of a digestive enzyme that helps break down lactose in the intestines.
How to treat: “Eliminate dairy from your diet for a few weeks or try a lactase enzyme replacement (like Lactaid). See how your bowel movements respond,” says Dr. Ivanina. This will help you determine how severe your intolerance is and whether you can still enjoy dairy products from time to time.”
Give up dairy temporarily and see if the symptoms disappear, Source: vecteezy.com
Why stools become sticky: celiac disease
As mentioned above, people with celiac disease may be prone to greasy and sticky stools. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. It causes your body to have an inflammatory response to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains. This response causes your immune system to produce antibodies to “fight” the gluten, which can, unfortunately, damage the lining of your small intestine.
When this happens, your gut can’t properly absorb nutrients from your food, says Dr. Ivanina. This leads to diarrhea or sticky stools. The Celiac Disease Foundation notes that you may also experience other gastrointestinal symptoms, such as:
- abdominal pain;
- bloating;
- Gases;
- Constipation;
- Fatty stools;
You may experience symptoms such as joint pain, fatigue, and nutritional deficiencies, such as anemia (due to iron deficiency).
How to treat it: If you experience pain and diarrhea after eating gluten, “get tested for celiac disease by a gastroenterologist,” says Dr. Ivanina. This usually involves a blood test (to confirm the presence of gluten antibodies) and a small sample of tissue from your small intestine to determine if you have any damage in your gut.
Once you're diagnosed, you'll need to start a strict gluten-free diet. Most people feel better immediately after giving up gluten. But it can take some time (read: a few months) for your gut to recover.
Why stools become sticky: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Like celiac disease, you may also have sticky stools if you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). According to Dr. Ivanina, this is a general term to describe conditions — Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — that occur when your immune system attacks your intestines and causes inflammation.
If this inflammation damages the tissues in your intestines, it can interfere with your ability to absorb nutrients. This malabsorption (the inability to absorb nutrients) can manifest as persistent diarrhea and sticky stools. Other symptoms may also occur, including:
- Abdominal pain;
- Rectal bleeding or bloody stools;
- Weight loss;
- Fatigue;
How to treat: “There are many treatment options, from dietary changes to biologics (a class of drugs derived from living organisms, such as antibiotics),” says Dr. Ivanina. “So talk to your gastroenterologist about which one is best for you.”
Why you have sticky stools: stomach ulcer or esophageal irritation
“Inflammation, such as esophagitis (inflammation that damages the esophagus, or the tube that connects the throat to the stomach) or peptic ulcer disease (open sores in the lining of the stomach or upper small intestine), can change the consistency of your stool. Especially if there is bleeding,” says Dr. Ivanina.
Both esophagitis and peptic ulcer disease can be caused by many things, including infections and long-term use of certain medications, especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. Other signs of esophagitis may include:
- Sore throat;
- Heartburn;
- Difficulty swallowing;
- Chest pain;
- Acid reflux;
- Belching;
- Food gets stuck in the throat;
- Indigestion;
- Difficulty feeding (in children);
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Blood in vomit;
- Mouth ulcers;
Other signs of peptic ulcer disease include:
- Epigastric pain (pain in the central upper abdomen);
- Indigestion (dyspepsia);
- Abdominal bloating;
- Eructation;
- Loss of appetite;
- Nausea and vomiting;
How to treat: Both conditions can be cured by addressing the underlying cause of the irritation. That's why you should “see a doctor right away” if your sticky stools “look like coffee grounds or contain blood,” says Dr. Ivanina. Once you figure out what's causing the inflammation, you can stop it. Most treatments for these conditions involve taking medications that protect and help the damaged tissue heal.
Why stools become sticky: blood in stools
The presence of blood can give your stool a sticky appearance. Depending on where the blood is coming from, it can appear as “melena” (a sticky, tarry, black stool) or as bright red blood, says Dr. Ivanina. For example, if the bleeding is coming from the lower rectum or colon, the blood will appear bright red. And if it’s coming from the stomach or upper GI tract, it may appear black and tarry.
While this may all sound scary, bloody stools aren't always serious. Sometimes they can be caused by something harmless, like hemorrhoids (swollen veins in the lower rectum) or colon polyps (usually harmless growths on the inside of the colon). But other times, they can indicate problems like inflammation of the colon.
How to treat: “If there is blood in the stool, you need to see a doctor immediately,” says Dr. Ivanina. It is important to find the site of the bleeding and stop it. Treatment will depend on the location, severity, and cause of the bleeding.”
Why you have sticky stools: Cancer, in rare cases
Colon cancer (which usually starts with abnormal polyps in the colon) can affect the appearance of your stool. The consistency of your stool can become sticky and black, like tar, due to “microscopic blood loss from the tumors,” says Dr. Ivanina. Your stool may also change shape, she adds. Other signs of colon cancer include:
- a change in bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation.
- Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool.
- Persistent discomfort in the abdominal area, such as cramps, gas, or pain.
- A feeling that the bowel is not emptying during bowel movements.
- Weakness or fatigue.
- Weight loss without effort.
However, many people with colon cancer don't have symptoms right away, which is why early screening is so important.
How to treat it: “If you notice any new changes in the shape or consistency of your stool, you should talk to your gastroenterologist about having a colonoscopy,” says Dr. Ivanina. During this procedure, your doctor uses a long, thin tube attached to a camera to look inside your colon and rectum. If they find any abnormal polyps, they can be removed and tested. If cancer is found, you may need surgery to remove part of your colon (called a partial colectomy) or chemotherapy, depending on how advanced your disease is.
How to make your stools less sticky
You can't always prevent the conditions that cause sticky stools. But you can take steps to minimize your risk with healthy bowel habits. Here are some expert-approved tips:
- Exercise regularly.
- Focus on fiber.
- Ask your doctor about probiotics.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Manage your stress levels.
Have you noticed that your stool has turned yellow? This can be surprising. Here we wrote about why this symptom occurs.