The Bristol Stool Chart can help you decide when you need to see a healthcare provider for diarrhea or constipation. If you find that your stools are consistently ranking on either end of the scale, a healthcare provider can help you obtain a diagnosis and recommend treatment to improve your symptoms.
Your healthcare provider will likely ask you to look at the chart and point to the number that most closely matches the look and form of your bowel movements:
- Type 1: Separate hard lumps (hard to pass)
- Type 2: Lumpy, hard, sausage-shaped
- Type 3: Sausage-shaped with cracks on the surface
- Type 4: Sausage-shaped or snake-like; smooth and soft
- Type 5: Soft blobs with clear-cut edges (easy to pass)
- Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges; mushy
- Type 7: Entirely liquid, watery, no solid pieces
Types 1 and 2
Types 1 and 2 describe stool that is hard to pass and may point to constipation. Stools of these types may be darker in color than normal stools.
Hard stools can have various causes, from a low-fiber diet and inadequate fluids to gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and Parkinson's disease. Certain medications may also cause constipation as a side effect.
Bloating and stomach pains may go along with these types. Stools that are hard to pass can cause you to strain when trying to have a bowel movement and lead to haemorrhoids.
Types 3 and 4
Types 3 and 4 describe stool that is well-formed and easy to pass. These are thought of as "normal," healthy stools and the most ideal.
Types 5 and 6
These are loose stools. They can indicate a dietary problem, such as inadequate fiber intake, or they can happen as a result of an infection or other medical condition.
Type 5 stools are considered borderline diarrhea. For some people, they may be typical even in the absence of a gastrointestinal condition. For others, they may suggest a mild or developing gastrointestinal issue.
Type 6 stools are considered diarrhea even though they are not liquid. Diarrhea is often caused by a viral or bacterial infection, though it can also be a medication side effect or a symptom of a medical condition such as IBS.
Type 7
Type 7 describes very loose stools or fully liquid diarrhea. With this type, you may feel an urgent need to have a bowel movement and may not be able to hold it. If the diarrhea persists, you may also become dehydrated or malnourished.
This type of diarrhea is most often caused by a viral or bacterial infection such as norovirus or E. coli. Parasitic infections such as Giardia lamblia can also cause watery diarrhea.
Certain medical conditions can cause type 7 stools as well, including celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis.