Bristol stool chart
Which looks most like yours?
Bristol stool chart
Pick a type on the left to see what it usually means.
Slow: suggests constipation|Hard, dry stool that spent a long time in the intestines, where water was drawn out of it. It is often difficult to pass and may come less often.
The ideal range|Formed enough to hold together, soft enough to pass without straining. This is what most people aim for.
Fast: suggests diarrhea|Soft, mushy or liquid stool that moved through quickly, before the bowel could absorb its water. Drink enough to replace what you lose.
Call a doctor right away for
- Blood in the stool, or black, tarry stool
- Severe pain in the belly or rectum
- Diarrhea that lasts more than 2 days, a high fever, or six or more loose stools a day
- Signs of dehydration: strong thirst, little or dark urine, dizziness
- Constipation with bleeding, constant belly pain, vomiting or weight loss you cannot explain