Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMucus in Poop With IBSSymptomsWhen to WorryFood TriggersFinding Relief
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Mucus in Poop With IBS
Symptoms
When to Worry
Food Triggers
Finding Relief
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently causes mucus in stool.As part of thedigestive process, the intestines secrete a gel-like mucus to lubricate the intestinal walls and ease the passage of stool. When you have IBS, various foods and other triggers cause colon spasms. These spasms rush food through the digestive tract, bringing excess mucus with it.
It’s normal to have a small amount of mucus in your stool—even if you don’t have IBS. Mucus in stool should always be clear to white and jelly-like, and might appear in gobs during aflare. If your stool seems black and tarry (like coffee grounds) or if the mucus contains blood, see a healthcare provider right away.Bloody stoolcan be a sign of a medical emergency.
Does IBS Cause Mucus in Poop?
IBS commonly causes mucus in poop.This is a frequentsymptom of IBSthat is also common in people who do not have the disorder.
Most people have a small amount of mucus in their poop. As part of the body’s normal digestive process, mucus membranes lining the intestinal walls secrete mucus to protect and lubricate the intestines. This mucus helps slide the stool through the intestines and out the body.
When you have IBS, certain foods, stress, hormone changes, and other triggers often cause yourcolonto spasm. When this happens, any food in your digestive tract is rapidly pushed out the body, along with the intestinal mucus.
Inflammation and irritation in your intestines due to IBS can also cause increased mucus production, especially during a flare-up. For this reason, you might notice more mucus than normal in your stool during a flare.
What Causes Jelly-Like Mucus in the Stool?With IBS, intestinal mucus membranes produce more, thicker mucus to help protect the intestines from inflammation and irritation. The mucus' jelly-like consistency is likely a result of the body’s increased effort to ease the passage of stool and reduce discomfort during bowel movements.
What Causes Jelly-Like Mucus in the Stool?
With IBS, intestinal mucus membranes produce more, thicker mucus to help protect the intestines from inflammation and irritation. The mucus' jelly-like consistency is likely a result of the body’s increased effort to ease the passage of stool and reduce discomfort during bowel movements.
What Does IBS Stool Look Like?
There are three types of IBS, each of which result in a different type of stool:
Mucus in stool is a common symptom of all three types. The mucus is typically clear to white and jelly-like. People with IBS may see gobs of mucus in their stool. This is not a serious problem unless it happens constantly.
When to Worry About Mucus in Stool
Mucus in stool is relatively normal and not usually something to stress about. However, if you notice very large amounts of mucus in your stool on a regular basis, give your healthcare provider a call to discuss your symptoms.
Stool that appears black and tarry indicates the bleeding is happening higher up in the gastrointestinal tract. This, along with larger or more frequent amounts of blood, can be a sign of a serious or even life-threatening medical condition, such as astomach ulcerorcolorectal cancer.
If at any point you notice blood in your stool or the stool looks tarry, contact a healthcare provider for an immediate evaluation. Blood in stoolis notan IBS symptom. Even a few drops of blood should be investigated.
What Foods Cause Mucus in Stool?
You might notice mucus in your stool if you eat something you are sensitive too. Triggers and sensitivities vary between individuals.
Common food triggers in people with IBS-D include:
Common food triggers in people with IBS-C include:
If you’re unsure which foods are causing mucus or other IBS symptoms, keep a diary. Record flare-ups, the foods you ate beforehand, and any other symptoms. This can help you and your healthcare provider identify triggers.
How to Stop IBS Mucus Discharge
There aren’t any specific treatments designed to reduce mucus in stool. However, you may find that addressing and managing IBS flares results in reduced mucus discharge.
Strategies that may help you reduce IBS mucus in stool and other symptoms include:
Summary
In people with IBS, the intestines may produce increased mucus to lubricate the intestines and ease the passage of stool. IBS mucus in stool is typically clear to white and jelly-like, and may appear in large amounts during an IBS flare. This is relatively normal, and not usually cause for concern.
If you notice bloody mucus in your stool, see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. You may find that managing your IBS symptoms through dietary changes, stress relief, and other strategies helps reduce the amount of mucus in your stool.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.Mount Sinai.Bloody or tarry stools.Standford Medicine.What are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?.Song C, Chai Z, Chen S, Zhang H, Zhang X, Zhou Y.Intestinal mucus components and secretion mechanisms: what we do and do not know.EMM. 2023;55(1):681–691. doi:10.1038/s12276-023-00960-yCedars Sinai.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Jackson Siegelbaum.Irritable bowel syndrome.Temple Health.These foods may be making your IBS worse.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.Mount Sinai.Bloody or tarry stools.Standford Medicine.What are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?.Song C, Chai Z, Chen S, Zhang H, Zhang X, Zhou Y.Intestinal mucus components and secretion mechanisms: what we do and do not know.EMM. 2023;55(1):681–691. doi:10.1038/s12276-023-00960-yCedars Sinai.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Jackson Siegelbaum.Irritable bowel syndrome.Temple Health.These foods may be making your IBS worse.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.Mount Sinai.Bloody or tarry stools.Standford Medicine.What are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?.Song C, Chai Z, Chen S, Zhang H, Zhang X, Zhou Y.Intestinal mucus components and secretion mechanisms: what we do and do not know.EMM. 2023;55(1):681–691. doi:10.1038/s12276-023-00960-yCedars Sinai.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Jackson Siegelbaum.Irritable bowel syndrome.Temple Health.These foods may be making your IBS worse.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.
Mount Sinai.Bloody or tarry stools.
Standford Medicine.What are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?.
Song C, Chai Z, Chen S, Zhang H, Zhang X, Zhou Y.Intestinal mucus components and secretion mechanisms: what we do and do not know.EMM. 2023;55(1):681–691. doi:10.1038/s12276-023-00960-y
Cedars Sinai.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Jackson Siegelbaum.Irritable bowel syndrome.
Temple Health.These foods may be making your IBS worse.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Irritable bowel syndrome treatment.
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