What Your Poo Says About Your Health

Poo. Poop. Crap. Doo-doo. Waste. Droppings. Faeces. Stools. Number twos.
Or everyone’s favourite… dropping some friends off at the pool.

No matter what you call it, having a poo is something everyone does – yet we rarely talk about it.

We often talk openly about periods, sex and mental health, but poo is a different story.

Dr Vincent Ho(opens in a new tab), gastroenterologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at Western Sydney University, says there is a “real stigma” around discussing bowel habits, often rooted in childhood.

“There's a time in your life as a young child where you're instructed about bowel motions… but you're not provided with any follow-up,” says Dr Ho. “And this has impacts later in life, because it becomes a taboo topic.”

So what IS normal?

Studies(opens in a new tab) in bowel habits and frequency reveal how your poo can unveil important clues about your health.

“It's very common to have temporary fluctuations in our bowels. That's normal,” Dr Ho says. “But if you've got sustained changes… then that can be a prompt to see a doctor. And in order to pick that up, you've actually got to look.”

What should your poo look like?

The Bristol Stool Chart(opens in a new tab) was developed by Dr Stephen Lewis and Dr Ken Heaton at the Bristol Royal Infirmary teaching hospital in 1997. It explains the seven types of poo people typically pass.

Type 1: Separate hard lumps that are hard to pass.

Type 2: Sausage-shaped but lumpy.

Type 3: Like a sausage but with cracks on the surface.

Type 4: Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft.

Type 5: Soft blobs with clear-cut edges.

Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy poo.

Type 7: Watery, no solid pieces – entirely liquid.

Not sure if what you're seeing in the toilet is normal? Your ahm cover may include bowel cancer screenings and gut investigations - check what you're entitled to.

What does this mean?
Orange poo
Dr Ho says this is often caused by beta-carotene(opens in a new tab) (e.g. carrots, pumpkin) or medications like antacids.

Yellow poo
“A yellow stool can be normal,” Dr Ho says. “However, greasy, foul-smelling stools may indicate excess fat or malabsorption. This can be linked to conditions such as coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn’s disease. In that situation, it's worth getting investigated,” he says.

Pale stools
“Pale stools can signify a blockage of bile… such as stones, narrowing of the bile duct or tumours,” Dr Ho says. Persistent pale stools should be investigated.

Black stools or spots
Dr Ho says this may indicate blood from the upper gut and can be caused by ulcers. Dark stools can also be caused by some medications, classically iron tablets(opens in a new tab), and some foods.
“It may just be nothing,” Dr Ho says. “However, if someone notices dark stools, I recommend they see their doctor.”

Blood in poo
“Blood in stool is never great and should always be a point for investigation,” Dr Ho says, adding that it could be caused by haemorrhoids or “something more serious like bowel cancer”.

Foamy poo
Dr Ho says this is often linked to fat malabsorption(opens in a new tab) or infections like giardia.
“If your loose movements persist or are accompanied by pain and the presence of blood, then that should prompt medical attention,” Dr Ho says.

Loose stools
Watery bowel motions typically result from viruses, diet or medications(opens in a new tab). “If your loose movements persist or are accompanied by pain and the presence of blood, then that should prompt medical attention,” Dr Ho says.

How often should you be pooing?
Normal frequency ranges from three times a day to three times a week. “So that means that 99 per cent of the population will fall into that category,” Dr Ho says. “If you are much outside of that, then it's worth having a chat with your doctor.”
A 2023 large-scale review by ZOE found(opens in a new tab) most people pass stools just after breakfast.

Should I see my doctor?

Changes in your stool aren’t always a cause for concern. But if you notice a change- particularly if diarrhoea or constipation lasts more than two or three days(opens in a new tab), or if your stool is black and tarry, very pale or grey, or contains blood - it’s wise to make a GP appointment.

Your body gives you signals, ahm can help you act on them. Explore your cover options here.