Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

Clay colored or very pale stool usually means bile is not reaching the intestines, often from a bile duct blockage, liver or gallbladder disease, pancreatic problems, or medications, and it is an emergency if it comes with yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, severe upper right abdominal pain, fever, chills, weight loss, confusion, or extreme fatigue. If the pale color lasts more than 1 to 2 days or keeps returning, contact a doctor promptly even without pain. There are several factors to consider, IBS does not cause clay colored stool, and important details that can guide your next steps are outlined below.

Yellow, greasy stools can be a sign of fat malabsorption, commonly from pancreatic enzyme shortages or impaired bile flow from the gallbladder. There are several factors to consider, including other causes like celiac disease, SIBO, medications, and diet, plus red flags such as weight loss, persistent diarrhea, significant pain, jaundice, or blood; see the complete details below to decide the right next steps and when to contact a clinician.

Green poop is usually normal and most often linked to diet, iron or other supplements, or faster digestion, but it can also occur with infections or digestive disorders. There are several factors to consider, like how long it lasts and whether you also have pain, fever, dehydration, blood, or symptoms in babies and high risk adults. Important details and next-step guidance are below, including when home care is reasonable and when to speak to a doctor.

Stool changes during a diverticulitis flare can include constipation, diarrhea, alternating patterns, narrow ribbon-like stools, mucus, or blood, often alongside lower left abdominal pain, bloating, fever, or nausea. There are several factors to consider, and the complete guidance on what each change can mean is outlined below. Seek medical care urgently for severe or worsening pain, persistent fever, vomiting, significant bleeding, or black stools, and follow gentle care steps during flares until evaluated. See below for how to tell this apart from IBS or infections and for step-by-step next actions that could change your care plan.

Giardia often causes pale or yellow, greasy, very foul-smelling stools that may float and last for weeks, usually with gas, bloating, and fatigue due to fat malabsorption. There are several factors to consider; see below for how this differs from other conditions, why appearance alone is not diagnostic, when to get stool testing and treatment, and urgent signs that mean you should contact a doctor.

There are several factors to consider. C. diff diarrhea is typically watery, frequent (3 or more times a day), persistent, often pale yellow or green, unusually foul-smelling, and may include mucus or blood, especially after recent antibiotics or hospitalization; normal stool is formed, brown, easy to pass, less than 3 times daily, and without unusual odor. See below for key symptoms, risk factors, when to seek urgent care, and how testing and treatment work, since these details can guide and potentially change your next steps.

There are several stool features to consider. UC typically causes frequent, urgent diarrhea with bright red blood and mucus, while Crohn’s shows more variable patterns with less frequent or darker bleeding and less prominent mucus, sometimes fatty or bulky when the small intestine is involved. These clues help but do not diagnose; see the complete breakdown below for key nuances, red flags, and when to seek care so you can choose the right next steps.

There are several factors to consider. Bright red blood on toilet paper with anal itching or pain points to hemorrhoids, whereas darker or black stools, blood mixed into the stool, thin pencil-like stools, or persistent, often painless changes in bowel habits can signal colon cancer. If bleeding lasts more than a few days or you also have fatigue, weight loss, anemia, or a family history, speak with a doctor and keep up with screening after 45. See the complete details below for important nuances, red flags, and what tests and next steps may be right for you.

Yes, it can be normal to notice a small amount of clear or whitish mucus in your stool around your period, as hormonal shifts like prostaglandins can speed up gut movement and increase mucus, and it usually resolves when menstruation ends. There are several factors to consider. Red flags include blood, colored or foul-smelling mucus, persistent bowel changes, weight loss, fever, or significant pain, which can suggest conditions like IBS, IBD, infections, or endometriosis; see below for the full list of warning signs and the next steps on when to seek care.

Sudden watery, light brown or yellow stools with cramps, nausea, or vomiting are usually viral gastroenteritis, not influenza, and the main danger is dehydration; prioritize oral rehydration, small frequent sips, and bland foods as tolerated, and seek urgent care for blood or black stools, high fever, severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration, or diarrhea lasting more than 7 days. There are several factors to consider. See below for stool red flags, who is at higher risk, which drinks and medicines to avoid, how long recovery typically takes, prevention tips, and when to contact a clinician.

A small amount of mucus in stool can be normal, but persistent or increasing mucus, especially with blood, pain, ongoing diarrhea or constipation, fever, weight loss, or fatigue, needs medical attention. In women, hormones, diet, stress, constipation or diarrhea, IBS, and infections are common contributors, while conditions like IBD or colorectal issues are less common but important to rule out. There are several factors to consider; see below for color clues, when to see a doctor, and practical first steps that can guide your next healthcare decisions.

There are several factors to consider: with IBS, stool often shifts from hard pellets or lumpy to loose or watery, may include small amounts of clear or white mucus, and color usually ranges from brown to light brown or yellowish due to changes in gut transit. Concerning signs include black tarry stool, bright red blood, gray or chalk-white stool, persistent pale stool with dark urine, or symptoms like unexplained weight loss, fever, nighttime diarrhea, anemia, vomiting, or new changes after age 50 that should prompt medical care; see below for fuller details, IBS subtypes, triggers, and guidance on next steps.

Lower left abdominal swelling or hardness is usually due to gas, constipation, or IBS causing lopsided bloating or pelvic pressure; in people with ovaries, ovarian cysts or ovulation are common too, with less common causes including diverticular disease, muscle strain, and bladder or pelvic floor issues. There are several factors to consider, and some are urgent such as sudden one sided pelvic pain with nausea that could indicate ovarian torsion, so see the complete details below for red flags, when to seek care, and practical relief strategies that may guide your next steps.

Vaginal dryness after 65 is common and treatable; effective options include immediate lubrication help with water or silicone-based lubricants, ongoing relief with vaginal moisturizers, and gold-standard low-dose vaginal estrogen with minimal systemic absorption. Non-estrogen choices like vaginal DHEA or oral SERMs, plus pelvic floor physical therapy and gentle sexual stimulation, can also improve comfort and desire. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Know what to avoid and when to call a doctor: skip fragranced or numbing products and douching, and seek care for pain, bleeding after sex, persistent burning, or frequent UTIs; emotional factors and past trauma can also affect arousal. Important nuances, safety considerations, and step-by-step guidance on choosing treatments and next steps are explained below.

Black, sticky, tar-like stool usually means melena caused by digested blood from the upper digestive tract and needs prompt medical attention, while black stool that is not sticky and lacks a strong odor is often from iron, bismuth, charcoal, or dark foods and is usually harmless. Because causes, warning symptoms like dizziness or fatigue, medications such as NSAIDs or blood thinners, and a history of ulcers or liver disease can change what to do next, there are several factors to consider. See below for specific red flags, how doctors evaluate black stool, and the most appropriate next steps for your care.

Mucus in stool in females is often due to IBS, constipation, or normal hormonal shifts around periods, pregnancy, or menopause, but it can also follow infections, food reactions, or less commonly inflammatory bowel disease. There are several factors to consider. Seek care if you notice blood, persistent diarrhea, severe or worsening pain, fever, weight loss, or nighttime bowel movements. See below for a fuller list of causes, hormonal links, what mucus color can suggest, stress connections, and the exact warning signs that should guide your next steps.

Normal stool is smooth, soft, brown, and easy to pass, with frequency ranging from three times a day to three times a week. In IBS, stool often shifts to hard, lumpy pellets with constipation, loose or watery stools with diarrhea, or alternates between both, and may come with mucus, urgency, and a sense of incomplete evacuation. There are several factors to consider, including red flags like blood or black stools, weight loss, nighttime symptoms, fever, anemia, or sudden changes after age 50 that warrant prompt medical care. See below for important details that could affect your next steps.

Pale or clay-colored stool usually means too little bile reaches the intestines, most often due to problems with the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, or pancreas; a single pale stool can be harmless, but repeated episodes with dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, itching, upper right abdominal pain, greasy stools, or weight loss deserve attention. See a doctor if it lasts more than a few days or keeps recurring, and seek urgent care for severe pain, sudden jaundice, or feeling very unwell; there are several factors to consider, and key details on causes, warning symptoms, evaluation, and treatment options are outlined below.

Pencil thin stools during anxiety are often from the gut brain connection altering bowel muscle tone and transit, so one off or stress linked changes that improve with relaxation, fiber, fluids, and a regular bathroom routine are usually not worrisome. Seek care if thin stools persist beyond 2 to 3 weeks, progressively narrow, or come with blood, weight loss, ongoing pain, anemia, or a family history of colorectal disease; there are several factors to consider, and important details about red flags, testing, and the right next steps are explained below.

Pencil-thin stools and blood in stool can be warning signs of colon cancer, especially if they last more than 2 to 3 weeks, worsen, or occur with other issues like black tarry stools, a feeling of incomplete emptying, weight loss, or fatigue, though common causes like hemorrhoids or IBS are also possible. There are several factors to consider. See complete details below for specific red flags, noncancer causes, who is at higher risk, how screening and stool tests fit in, and clear guidance on when to contact a doctor or seek urgent care.

Leg pain in older adults that starts with walking and improves with rest is often a sign of Peripheral Artery Disease caused by atherosclerosis narrowing the leg arteries and limiting oxygen to the muscles. This matters because PAD signals plaque elsewhere and raises heart attack and stroke risk, yet it is treatable with lifestyle changes, medications, and sometimes procedures when caught early. There are several factors to consider, including specific symptoms, tests, and warning signs that can change your next steps; see below for the complete details.

After gallbladder removal, loose or more frequent stools, urgency, and greasy or lighter-colored poop are common as bile flows continuously, and most people improve over weeks to a few months with smaller meals, moderate fat, and added soluble fiber. Persistent diarrhea beyond 6 to 8 weeks, nighttime bowel movements, weight loss, severe pain, blood, fever, black stools, persistent vomiting, or jaundice warrant medical care, and effective treatments like bile acid binding medicines can help; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete guidance below to understand important details that can shape your next steps.

After gallbladder removal, bile drips continuously into the intestines and fat is digested less efficiently, leading to looser, more frequent, urgent, pale or greasy stools, sometimes called bile acid diarrhea. Most people improve within weeks to months with smaller low fat meals, gradual fiber, and medications like bile acid binders when needed, but red flags like persistent diarrhea, weight loss, black or bloody stool, fever, severe pain, or dehydration require prompt evaluation; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete guidance below to decide your next steps.

While breastfeeding, water-based, pH-balanced, fragrance-free lubricants with low osmolality are generally safe for postpartum vaginal dryness. Silicone-based options can help if dryness is severe, but oil-based products are usually not recommended, especially with latex condoms. There are several factors to consider, and important details can affect your next steps. See below for ingredient cautions like glycerin, warming agents, and parabens, the difference between lubricants and vaginal moisturizers, toy and condom compatibility, practical use tips, medical options like low-dose vaginal estrogen, and when to speak to a clinician for persistent pain, bleeding, or infection signs.

Bright red streaks in stool usually come from hemorrhoids or anal fissures, but infections, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps, or colorectal cancer are also possible. Seek prompt care if bleeding is persistent, heavy, painless, or occurs with dizziness, weakness, fever, severe abdominal pain, black stools, large clots, or if you are over 45 without colon screening. There are several factors to consider. See below for practical home care tips, clear red flags, and how doctors evaluate and treat different causes so you can choose the right next step.

Learn how to communicate boundaries and needs with partners through clear consent and direct “I” statements, understand what anal sex is, and protect your physical health with lubrication, condoms, slow pacing, and stopping if there is pain or bleeding. It also covers emotional safety, red flags for pressure or disrespect, aftercare check-ins, and when to talk to a doctor for persistent pain, bleeding, infection signs, bowel changes, or ongoing distress. There are several factors to consider; see below for important details that could shape your next steps.

Medications often secretly cause constipation in seniors, more than diet or aging alone, with opioids and many common heart, mood, allergy, bladder, iron, and calcium drugs slowing the gut, drying stool, or altering nerve signals. There are several factors to consider, including reviewing your full medication and supplement list with a clinician, using safe lifestyle supports, being cautious with laxatives, and knowing red flags that need urgent care, so see below for specifics that could affect your next steps.

Sharp left under rib pain that worsens when you breathe is usually pleuritic pain or rib inflammation, not your heart, often after a recent infection, coughing, or physical strain. There are several factors to consider. See below for the red flags that need urgent care, how doctors evaluate this, and simple treatments that may guide your next steps.

With gastroenteritis, stool is usually watery or loose, often light brown to yellow with a strong odor, and bowel movements are frequent for 1 to 3 days before gradually firming as the gut heals. Blood or black stool, diarrhea lasting over 3 days in adults or 24 hours in infants and young children, fever, severe pain, or dehydration signs warrant medical care, while hydration and rest are key; there are several factors to consider, so see below for important details and guidance on next steps.

Stool clues can help you tell the difference: stomach flu usually brings large-volume watery diarrhea that is yellow or green and starts 12 to 48 hours after exposure, while food poisoning often hits within hours with more intense cramps and stools that may be very foul, greasy, or streaked with mucus or blood. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand timing, smell, frequency, what yellow stool can mean, simple home care, and red flags like blood, black stools, high fever, dehydration, or diarrhea over 3 days that should prompt you to speak to a doctor.