8 Reasons You’re Pooping More Often

Let’s be clear. There is no rule about how many bowel movements a person should have each day. 

Some people poop several times a day. Others go every few days. “Normal” is something everyone decides for themselves.

But, if you suddenly find yourself going more often than usual for you, it could be the result of many different things:

1. Diet. If you start eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, you may need to poop more often. These foods are higher in healthy fiber. The side effect, however, is that you will go to the bathroom more often.
2. Water consumption. Drinking more water can cause more bowel movements because the water helps to flush waste from your body. If you’ve started drinking more water, you’ll probably visit the bathroom more often.
3. Exercise. Increasing physical activity can affect how often you poop because exercise helps your digestion and flexes your muscles. It can change the regularity of your bowel movements.
4. Too much coffee. If you are a regular coffee drinker, you may go to the bathroom after a morning cup of coffee. That’s because caffeine has a laxative effect.
5. Stress. Stress can affect your bowel schedule and regularity if you feel anxious about something. Stress and anxiety throw your body functions out of whack, which can change your digestive processes. It can also cause diarrhea.
6. Menstruation. A woman’s period can cause more bowel movements.
7. Medications. New medications or antibiotics can result in more frequent bowel movements. Antibiotics can upset the normal bacteria that live in your gut. Other drugs can stimulate gastrointestinal movement. The result can be more frequent bowel movements or diarrhea.
8. Medical conditions. Several conditions and diseases can affect your gastrointestinal system and bowel movements:
   1. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten, think wheat. It can make you poop more often.
   2. Crohn’s disease is another autoimmune condition. It can trigger excessive bowel movements, diarrhea, bloody stools, and other problems.
   3. Irritable bowel syndrome is a group of symptoms that occur together, including pain in your abdomen and changes in your bowel movements, which may be diarrhea, constipation, or both.

Get the Care You Need 

Pooping a lot is not necessarily a problem unless it is associated with pain or prolonged diarrhea. If you are experiencing those symptoms, you should discuss the issue with your doctor. If you don’t have a doctor, Grady can help. If you need a primary care physician, book your appointment online at gradyhealth.org, use MyChart, or call (404) 616-1000. We’ll arrange an appointment at a Primary Care Center near you. Doctors there can treat most conditions and provide access to Grady’s unparalleled medical specialty expertise.