Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs Flat Poop a Problem?CausesAt-Home ReliefWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Is Flat Poop a Problem?
Causes
At-Home Relief
When to See a Provider
You may be concerned if your stool is suddenly flat or ribbon-like. When stool changes from a person’s “normal” for more than a few days, it’s time to contact a healthcare provider.
Bowel movements (poop) come in a spectrum of normal. TheBristol Stool Chartis a visual guide to help people understand where their stool is along the gradation from constipation to diarrhea.
For most people, the goal is a soft, easily passed stool shaped like a sausage or snake. However, gastrointestinal conditions such asirritable bowel syndrome (IBS),constipation, and inflammatory diseases could cause long-term changes in stool.
Drazen Zigic / Getty Images
Stool changes depend on several factors, including diet. Flat or ribbon-like stools are not always a cause for concern. They could appear from time to time and be considered within the range of a person’s “normal.”
However, there are conditions that may cause flat poop. When the stool changes in size, shape, color, or frequency for more than a few days, it’s a reason to seek care from a healthcare provider.
Stool that becomes progressively thinner may be a sign of a medical problem.It doesn’t always mean that there is a serious reason, but it’s important to understand what may be causing it.
What Causes Flat Poop?
Several types of conditions could cause stool to be flat.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)is a disorder of gut-brain interaction. It can cause digestive symptoms ranging from diarrhea to constipation. Due to IBS, stool can change in size and shape.
Constipation
Constipation(infrequent and/or hard stools) can have several causes. These can include medications, a lack of fiber in the diet, dehydration, or lack of physical activity. Constipation could lead to narrowed or pencil-thin stools.
Diarrhea
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)involves an enlarged prostate, which is normally the size of a walnut. The prostate goes around the urethra, the tube through which urine exits the body through the penis.
It is not a cancerous condition. However, it could put pressure on the bladder and the rectum, where stool is retained before a bowel movement.
Colorectal Cancer
Many people may immediately assume that flat or ribbon-like stools are from cancer, but that is not always the case. Narrowed stools are one of the signs ofcolorectal cancer, however. When a tumor is obstructing part of the colon, it could cause skinny, narrow, or flat stools.
Other Potential Causes
Other conditions that can cause narrowing (stricture) or constricting in the colon, such asCrohn’s disease, atwisted colon, ordiverticular disease, may also lead to flat poop. An abdominalherniamay compress the bowel or other organs and cause the stool to become narrow. Certain intestinal infections might also lead to skinny or flat stools.
How to Find Relief at Home
Flat stools might not always need treatment; they could stop on their own. However, people can try various things at home to prevent some of the causes of flat bowel movements.
Fiber
Addingfiberto the diet can help with constipation and diarrhea. It may also help some people with IBS that tends toward constipation.
It can take time to figure out which type of fiber and how much to add to the diet every day to relieve the symptoms. The goal may be to have stools that pass easily and are shaped like sausages.
Water
Exercise
Not getting enough exercise could lead to constipation or other issues affecting the stool. Walking or other exercise can help prevent or treat constipation. For those who aren’t able to get exercise regularly, working with a physical therapist may be needed.
Stress
Stress can contributeto trouble with bowel movements. Stress can have a bidirectional effect, meaning it could lead to bowel symptoms, but bowel symptoms could also lead to more stress.
Stressful life events may not be completely avoidable, but working with a healthcare provider or instituting some stress-reducing practices may be helpful.
Low-FODMAP Diet
Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) are types of carbohydrates and sugars found in a variety of foods. Some research indicates that eating fewer foods with FODMAPs may help with some digestive symptoms, especially in IBS.
This diet is often used on the advice of a dietitian, a healthcare provider who can advise on how to start and maintain the diet.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Some symptoms should prompt you to seek medical care. These symptoms could be a sign of a problem that needs treatment.If any of these signs or symptoms are occurring with flat stools, talk to a healthcare provider:
Summary
Flat poop, which might also be called ribbon-like, pencil-thin, narrow, or small-caliber stools, might not be an indication that there is anything wrong. This change in bowel habits could be temporary based on a transient event like travel or a change in diet.
If these types of stools occur for more than a few days in a row or get even narrower over time, see a healthcare provider.
12 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.Panda H, Andrews CN.Constipation in a 40-year-old woman.CMAJ. 2016;188:277-278. doi:10.1503/cmaj.150761.Rome Foundation.Rome IV Criteria.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diarrhea. November 2016.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia). September 2014.Issaka R.What are the symptoms of colon cancer?Fight Colorectal Cancer. January 29, 2024.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, and nutrition for irritable bowel syndrome. November 2017.Bellini M, Tonarelli S, Barracca F, et al.Chronic constipation: is a nutritional approach reasonable?Nutrients. 2021;13:3386. doi:10.3390/nu13103386National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation. May 2018.Schaper SJ, Stengel A.Emotional stress responsivity of patients with IBS - a systematic review.J Psychosom Res. 2022;153:110694. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110694MD Anderson Cancer Center.When to worry about blood in your stool.Thompson W.Alarm symptoms: a cause for alarm?International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.National Cancer Institute.Gastrointestinal complications (PDQ)-patient version. January 5, 2024.
12 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.Panda H, Andrews CN.Constipation in a 40-year-old woman.CMAJ. 2016;188:277-278. doi:10.1503/cmaj.150761.Rome Foundation.Rome IV Criteria.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diarrhea. November 2016.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia). September 2014.Issaka R.What are the symptoms of colon cancer?Fight Colorectal Cancer. January 29, 2024.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, and nutrition for irritable bowel syndrome. November 2017.Bellini M, Tonarelli S, Barracca F, et al.Chronic constipation: is a nutritional approach reasonable?Nutrients. 2021;13:3386. doi:10.3390/nu13103386National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation. May 2018.Schaper SJ, Stengel A.Emotional stress responsivity of patients with IBS - a systematic review.J Psychosom Res. 2022;153:110694. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110694MD Anderson Cancer Center.When to worry about blood in your stool.Thompson W.Alarm symptoms: a cause for alarm?International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.National Cancer Institute.Gastrointestinal complications (PDQ)-patient version. January 5, 2024.
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.
Panda H, Andrews CN.Constipation in a 40-year-old woman.CMAJ. 2016;188:277-278. doi:10.1503/cmaj.150761.Rome Foundation.Rome IV Criteria.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diarrhea. November 2016.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia). September 2014.Issaka R.What are the symptoms of colon cancer?Fight Colorectal Cancer. January 29, 2024.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, and nutrition for irritable bowel syndrome. November 2017.Bellini M, Tonarelli S, Barracca F, et al.Chronic constipation: is a nutritional approach reasonable?Nutrients. 2021;13:3386. doi:10.3390/nu13103386National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation. May 2018.Schaper SJ, Stengel A.Emotional stress responsivity of patients with IBS - a systematic review.J Psychosom Res. 2022;153:110694. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110694MD Anderson Cancer Center.When to worry about blood in your stool.Thompson W.Alarm symptoms: a cause for alarm?International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.National Cancer Institute.Gastrointestinal complications (PDQ)-patient version. January 5, 2024.
Panda H, Andrews CN.Constipation in a 40-year-old woman.CMAJ. 2016;188:277-278. doi:10.1503/cmaj.150761.
Rome Foundation.Rome IV Criteria.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diarrhea. November 2016.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia). September 2014.
Issaka R.What are the symptoms of colon cancer?Fight Colorectal Cancer. January 29, 2024.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, and nutrition for irritable bowel syndrome. November 2017.
Bellini M, Tonarelli S, Barracca F, et al.Chronic constipation: is a nutritional approach reasonable?Nutrients. 2021;13:3386. doi:10.3390/nu13103386
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation. May 2018.
Schaper SJ, Stengel A.Emotional stress responsivity of patients with IBS - a systematic review.J Psychosom Res. 2022;153:110694. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110694
MD Anderson Cancer Center.When to worry about blood in your stool.
Thompson W.Alarm symptoms: a cause for alarm?International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.
National Cancer Institute.Gastrointestinal complications (PDQ)-patient version. January 5, 2024.
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