What are possible medical explanations for not being able to fully empty my bowels?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Feeling like you can't fully empty your bowels—a sensation doctors call "incomplete evacuation"—is often caused by chronic constipation, pelvic floor dysfunction, or nerve and muscle disorders that disrupt normal colon and rectal function. Other possible causes include hemorrhoids, rectal prolapse, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or, in rare cases, a blockage or tumor.

Because these causes range from easily treatable to more serious, identifying the likely reason early matters. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you understand what may be behind your symptoms and guide your next steps—whether that means simple lifestyle changes or seeing a doctor sooner rather than later.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

There are a few medical reasons that might explain the feeling of not fully emptying your bowels. One common reason is chronic constipation. When stools become hard and pass slowly through the colon, some stool may remain in the rectum.

Another possibility is a problem with how the muscles in your pelvis or rectum work. Sometimes the muscles do not relax properly during a bowel movement, making it hard to completely empty your bowels. This problem may be related to a condition called dyssynergic defecation, where the muscles do not coordinate as they should.

Additionally, diabetes can affect nerve signals in your body, including those that help control bowel movements, and this can lead to incomplete evacuation. Lifestyle factors, such as a diet low in fiber or not enough physical activity, may also play a role. To better understand what might be causing your symptoms, you can use this free symptom checker and then talk with a healthcare provider to discuss your results so they can help find the cause and suggest the right treatment.

(References)

Chiba T, Kikuchi S, Omori S, Seino K. Chronic constipation and acute urinary retention. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Jan 1;34(1):e1-e2. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000001970. PMID: 33273268; PMCID: PMC8614547.
Ihana-Sugiyama N, Nagata N, Yamamoto-Honda R, Izawa E, Kajio H, Shimbo T, Kakei M, Uemura N, Akiyama J, Noda M. Constipation, hard stools, fecal urgency, and incomplete evacuation, but not diarrhea is associated with diabetes and its related factors. World J Gastroenterol. 2016 Mar 21;22(11):3252-60. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i11.3252. PMID: 27004003; PMCID: PMC4790001.
Bharucha AE, Dunivan G, Goode PS, Lukacz ES, Markland AD, Matthews CA, Mott L, Rogers RG, Zinsmeister AR, Whitehead WE, Rao SS, Hamilton FA. Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and classification of fecal incontinence: state of the science summary for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) workshop. Am J Gastroenterol. 2015 Jan;110(1):127-36. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2014.396. Epub 2014 Dec 23. PMID: 25533002; PMCID: PMC4418464.

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