4 Reasons Your Poop Is Sticky

The consistency of your stool varies depending on the foods you eat, health conditions and other factors. Sticky stools may be a sign that you need to cut back on fats. Or it could indicate a medical condition that requires treatment.

Bryn DeSantis, CNP, a certified nurse practitioner specializing in digestive disorders, explains the causes of sticky stools and their treatments.

What does it mean when poop is sticky?

Sticky stools have a gluey or tacky consistency that makes it harder to wipe away. Stools may also cling to the side of the toilet bowl, even after repeated flushing.

“Occasional sticky stools usually aren’t something to worry about,” says DeSantis.

Causes of sticky poop

Stool shape, color and smell can change day to day. Many causes can make stool stickier than usual.

1. Excess mucus

Stools naturally have small amounts of mucus. This gel-like substance lubricates the lining of your intestines and stool, making it easier to poop. Constipation, hemorrhoids and inflammation can cause your intestines to make more mucus than usual. You may notice jelly-like strands of mucus in stool that stick to the toilet paper or toilet bowl.

“Sticky stool with visible mucus is very common in people with irritable bowel syndrome or IBS,” says DeSantis.

Other conditions that cause excess mucus include:

• Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection and other GI infections
• Constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Cystic fibrosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Lactose intolerance and other food intolerances

2. Ulcers

Sticky stool that’s black and tarry (melena) may be a sign of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding often due to stomach ulcers.

“Bleeding in the upper GI tract can lead to stools with a tar-like color and consistency, as well as a stronger odor,” shares DeSantis.

Dark stool that’s normal in consistency (not sticky) can occur harmlessly from medications such as iron or Pepto Bismol®.

Providers sometimes perform fecal occult blood tests to check for blood in the stool. An upper endoscopy procedure called an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) looks for sources of bleeding in your upper GI tract.

It’s important to let your healthcare provider know about dark tarry stools right away.

3. Pancreas problems

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) causes fatty stools with excess oil that can stick to the toilet bowl.

“People with pancreatic insufficiency don’t make enough digestive enzymes to break down fats and other essential nutrients from foods,” explains DeSantis. “Steatorrhea” is the medical term for fatty stool. “The stool is often yellow and may cling to the toilet bowl, leaving a yellow stain,” says DeSantis.

Chronic pancreatitis is the most common cause of EPI in adults. Cystic fibrosis is more likely to cause EPI in children. Other conditions that increase the risk of EPI and sticky stools include:

• Celiac disease
• Diabetes
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Pancreatic cancer

4. Fatty foods

Overindulging in high-fat foods can make your stools greasier as the excess fat leaves your body in the stool. This oil can stick to the toilet bowl and create an oily film that floats on the surface of the water.

“Fatty stools tend to be pale, loose and buoyant — they often float,” notes DeSantis.

What foods cause this kind of fatty poop?

• Fried foods
• Red meat
• Whole milk and other full-fat dairy products

Remedies for sticky poop

Sticky stools that go away after a few days are rarely cause for concern. To help make bathroom trips a little less sticky, you can:

• Drink plenty of water to lubricate your intestines and stool.
• Eat more high-fiber foods.
• Cut back on high-fat foods and dairy products.
• Take prescribed medications and follow diets for conditions that cause sticky stool.

When to see your provider about sticky stool

Contact a healthcare provider if sticky stool persists for more than a week or if you have other concerning symptoms.

“Black, tarry stool, severe abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss require urgent medical attention,” states DeSantis. “Your provider can recommend the right diagnostic test to pinpoint the cause, so that you can get the right treatment.”