Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDietDiarrhea/ConstipationAnal TearIBS/IBDHemorrhoidsProctitisSTIsCancerWhen to See a ProviderPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diet
Diarrhea/Constipation
Anal Tear
IBS/IBD
Hemorrhoids
Proctitis
STIs
Cancer
When to See a Provider
Prevention
If you have ever had a bout of severe diarrhea or eaten too many spicy foods, you may have experienced a burning sensation when pooping. Other causes of burning when you poop include irritable bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), cancer, hemorrhoids, constipation, and other causes.
Sometimes, the cause is a minor condition that is treatable at home. However, if you regularly experience burning during bowel movements or you have additional symptoms, see a healthcare provider to rule out more serious causes.
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Spicy, acidic foods are one of the most common causes of a burning sensation in your anus while pooping. If your bottom burns while you poop, consider what you have been eating.
Chilies are one such food that can result in burning. Chilies contain a chemical calledcapsaicin. Once consumed, capsaicin binds to pain receptors called TRPV1s, which are found all throughout your body, including your anus. TRPV1 is responsible for telling your brain to feel a burning sensation.
Most of the time, your digestive system will digest the capsaicin long before it reaches your anus. But on occasion, some capsaicin may not fully digest, causing your anus to burn as you have a bowel movement.
Other acidic foods to watch out for include:
If you have recently eatenspicy or acidic foodand are experiencing some burning, you probably don’t need to be concerned. Just try to avoid spicy foods until the burning resolves, and drink plenty of water to help your digestive system pass the food.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is loose, watery stool that may occur several times a day. Diarrhea might cause burning and pain, especially if the skin around the anus (theperianalarea) becomes irritated.
Symptoms of diarrheacan include:
Diarrhea is common andcould happen for many reasons, such as an infection, food poisoning, before/during a menstrual period, a change in diet, or a stressful event. It may be possible to treat diarrhea at home.
Treatment may include:
When diarrhea persists for more than three days and includes symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, or bloody stools, it may be time to see a healthcare provider. They may perform testing to determine the cause, which could be a virus, bacterium, or a more long-lasting reason.
Constipation
Constipation is defined as three or fewer bowel movements in a week. It is a common condition and often resolves on its own.
Symptoms of constipationinclude hard and dry stool, which can make passing the stool more challenging and painful.
Home treatments for constipation include:
If you have a bowel condition or have never taken a laxative before, reach out to a healthcare provider for advice, as some are more stimulating than others. Additionally, if you find you need to rely on laxatives to have a bowel movement, your healthcare provider may be able to help you safely wean off of them.
Often, the best way to avoid constipation is through prevention. Toprevent constipation, consider trying the following:
Some medications can also cause constipation. If you are struggling with constipation, ask your healthcare provider if it is a side effect of any medications you are currently taking. They may be able to adjust dosages or work with you on a treatment plan.
A tear in the skin of the anal canal (called ananal fissure) can be painful and cause a burning sensation while having a bowel movement. The tear can happen while straining to have a bowel movement or passing a hard stool. There are also other reasons and risk factors for anal fissures, and they tend to be common in children.
The symptoms of an anal fissure can include:
Treating an anal fissurecan help to relieve the pain and burning while the fissure heals. Treatment may also include treating the reason for the fissure, such as constipation.
At-home remedies include:
Anal fissures are common, and they usually heal with home treatments.However, if you are experiencing pain or noticing blood with bowel movements, seeing a healthcare provider can confirm if the issue is anal fissures or a different condition.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is when you have various GI symptoms but no visually identifiable disease in your GI tract.
Symptoms of IBScan include:
Since IBS can cause both diarrhea and constipation, there is no single type of “IBS stool." A healthcare provider can discuss the different types of stool, often using theBristol Stool Chartto help you understand.
Treatment may include dietary and lifestyle changes, such as:
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe various medications, depending on your primary symptoms. Some medications help with diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis) are immune-mediated conditions that cause inflammation in thedigestive systemand other areas of the body. Depending on how the disease expresses itself, IBD may cause diarrhea and/or constipation.
IBD has many symptoms, which can include:
Diarrhea, constipation, fissures, and abscesses (walled-off pockets of infection and pus) can all lead to pain during bowel movements. A treatment goal of IBD is to get the underlying inflammation under control. This helps prevent complications and some of the symptoms that occur with IBD.
Treatments often include a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and complementary therapies.People with IBD should contact a healthcare provider when they notice new symptoms or when symptoms get worse. They may need to change medications, increase the dosage or frequency of current medications, or add another medication.
IBD is a lifelong condition, so it’s essential to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist in conditions of the digestive system) regularly.
Hemorrhoidsare a common condition that can lead to pain while going to the bathroom. However, some people with hemorrhoids have no pain. Hemorrhoids occur when the veins in the rectum and/or the anus become swollen and painful. They can bleed and cause discomfort, especially when having a bowel movement or when wiping.
Typical symptoms of hemorrhoids include:
Treating hemorrhoids begins with home and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies to reduce the swelling and the pain. Some treatments include the following:
When hemorrhoids don’t respond to anyat-home treatments, or there is significant pain, blood, or other symptoms, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. They may prescribe stronger creams or ointments than those available over the counter or offer other treatment options, such as surgery.
Cramping and pain in your anus, rectum, or on the left side of your abdomen are common symptoms of proctitis that may occur while you are pooping. Other symptoms may include:
Since proctitis is a symptom of another underlying condition, treating the cause tends to resolve the proctitis. Treatment will vary depending on the cause.
If you pass blood, mucus, or pus during a bowel movement or experience severe abdominal pain, be sure to see a healthcare provider right away.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections(STIs) can cause proctitis and anal discomfort, including while having a bowel movement. STIs are one of the most common causes of proctitis.
However, anal STIs are often asymptomatic—especially gonorrhea and chlamydia infections. This is why regular screening is essential. To prevent STIs, consider using condoms, as they are effective against most STIs.
Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are bacterial infections that respond to antibiotic treatment. Herpes is a viral infection and can be managed with antiviral medications.
Colonandrectal cancerusually begins with growths on the inner wall of the intestine calledpolyps. Polyps can grow large and become cancerous. They may also bleed, cause a blockage in the intestine, or grow into other organs.
Pain during a bowel movement can occur with colon or rectal cancer. It may be more common in rectal cancer.
The symptoms of colon and rectal cancer can include:
Treatments for colon and rectal cancer can include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.Colon cancer treatmentis tailored to each person, the type of cancer they have, and the staging.
Some people may be concerned that burning while pooping is automatically colon cancer. While it can be a symptom, cancer is not the most common reason. One of the many reasons to see a healthcare provider about burning while pooping is to rule out more serious causes, such as cancer.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
An occasional change in bowel habits is common and not usually serious. Adults and children will have diarrhea or constipation every so often. However, there are some signs that are a reason to see a healthcare provider.
Some of the reasons to see a healthcare provider about pain in the anus or with a bowel movement include:
While you may not always be able to prevent burning in your anus when you poop, there are a few extra steps you can take to reduce your risk.
If you do happen to enjoyspicy foods, keep in mind that you may occasionally experience a burning sensation in your anus when passing stool. If spicy foods are non-negotiable, you may find that combining them with some starch such as bread or rice helps reduce irritation.
To help prevent anal tears and hemorrhoids, it’s important to drink lots of water and include plenty offiber-rich foodsin your diet, such as beans, raspberries, broccoli, and nuts.Eating fiber softens and adds bulk to stools, making them easier to pass and preventing constipation so there is no straining during bowel movements.
Finally, to lower your chances of colorectal cancer, it’s important to haveregular colorectal cancer screeningsbeginning atage 45. Additionally, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, getting regular exercise, managing your weight, and eating a healthy diet can all help reduce your risk.
Summary
There are many common and treatable reasons for burning or pain while pooping, including constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and anal tears. If the pain is persistent or is occurring along with other symptoms, especially bleeding, see a healthcare provider to get a diagnosis and treatment.
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16 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.Jenkins FK.Spicy in means spicy out: Capsaicin-associated anal burn (CAAB) in three US metropolitan populations, a new proposed classification system.J Nutr Health Food Sci. 2016;4(3):2-3Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: Diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;15:182-193.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028.MedlinePlus.Constipation.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for constipation.Rao SSC, Tetangco EP.Anorectal disorders: An update.J Clin Gastroenterol.2020;54:606-613. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001348National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.Lamb CA, Kennedy NA, Raine T, et al.British Society of Gastroenterology consensus guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults.Gut. 2019;68(Suppl 3):s1-s106. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318484National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Symptoms & causes of proctitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Proctitis, proctocolitis, and enteritis.World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Proctitis, proctocolitis, and enteritis.Holtedahl K, Borgquist L, Donker GA, et al.Symptoms and signs of colorectal cancer, with differences between proximal and distal colon cancer: a prospective cohort study of diagnostic accuracy in primary care.Bmc Fam Pract. 2021;22:148. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01452-6Beaty JS.Anal fissure.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):30-37. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570390De Marco S, Tiso D.Lifestyle and risk factors in hemorrhoidal disease.Front Surg. 2021;8(1):729166. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2021.729166American Cancer Society.Six ways to lower your risk for colorectal cancer.
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.
Jenkins FK.Spicy in means spicy out: Capsaicin-associated anal burn (CAAB) in three US metropolitan populations, a new proposed classification system.J Nutr Health Food Sci. 2016;4(3):2-3Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: Diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;15:182-193.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028.MedlinePlus.Constipation.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for constipation.Rao SSC, Tetangco EP.Anorectal disorders: An update.J Clin Gastroenterol.2020;54:606-613. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001348National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.Lamb CA, Kennedy NA, Raine T, et al.British Society of Gastroenterology consensus guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults.Gut. 2019;68(Suppl 3):s1-s106. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318484National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Symptoms & causes of proctitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Proctitis, proctocolitis, and enteritis.World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Proctitis, proctocolitis, and enteritis.Holtedahl K, Borgquist L, Donker GA, et al.Symptoms and signs of colorectal cancer, with differences between proximal and distal colon cancer: a prospective cohort study of diagnostic accuracy in primary care.Bmc Fam Pract. 2021;22:148. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01452-6Beaty JS.Anal fissure.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):30-37. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570390De Marco S, Tiso D.Lifestyle and risk factors in hemorrhoidal disease.Front Surg. 2021;8(1):729166. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2021.729166American Cancer Society.Six ways to lower your risk for colorectal cancer.
Jenkins FK.Spicy in means spicy out: Capsaicin-associated anal burn (CAAB) in three US metropolitan populations, a new proposed classification system.J Nutr Health Food Sci. 2016;4(3):2-3
Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: Diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;15:182-193.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028.
MedlinePlus.Constipation.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for constipation.
Rao SSC, Tetangco EP.Anorectal disorders: An update.J Clin Gastroenterol.2020;54:606-613. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001348
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.
Lamb CA, Kennedy NA, Raine T, et al.British Society of Gastroenterology consensus guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults.Gut. 2019;68(Suppl 3):s1-s106. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318484
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Symptoms & causes of proctitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Proctitis, proctocolitis, and enteritis.
World Health Organization.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Holtedahl K, Borgquist L, Donker GA, et al.Symptoms and signs of colorectal cancer, with differences between proximal and distal colon cancer: a prospective cohort study of diagnostic accuracy in primary care.Bmc Fam Pract. 2021;22:148. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01452-6
Beaty JS.Anal fissure.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2016;29(1):30-37. doi:10.1055/s-0035-1570390
De Marco S, Tiso D.Lifestyle and risk factors in hemorrhoidal disease.Front Surg. 2021;8(1):729166. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2021.729166
American Cancer Society.Six ways to lower your risk for colorectal cancer.
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