Why Does It Burn When I Poop?

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.

Diet

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 called capsaicin. 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:

• Lemon and lime
• Pomegranate
• Pineapple
• Blueberries
• Raw garlic and onions
• Curry and cloves

If you have recently eaten spicy or acidic food and 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 (the perianal area) becomes irritated.

Symptoms of diarrhea can include:

• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Going to the toilet more frequently
• Stools that are loose or watery

Diarrhea is common and could 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:

• Avoiding foods that could worsen diarrhea (such as fried foods, greasy, or spicy foods)
• Drinking enough water
• Trying OTC diarrhea medications

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 constipation include hard and dry stool, which can make passing the stool more challenging and painful.

Home treatments for constipation include:

• Laxatives
• Stool softeners
• Fiber supplements
• Osmotic agents (e.g., Miralax)
• Lubricants

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. To prevent constipation, consider trying the following:

• Ensuring your diet is high in fiber
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Getting enough exercise
• Taking time to have a bowel movement

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.

Anal Tear

A tear in the skin of the anal canal (called an anal 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:

• Bleeding from the rectum, the muscular tube that connects the colon to the anus
• Pain or burning during bowel movements
• Pain or tenderness in the anal area
• Pain that may last for hours after a bowel movement

Treating an anal fissure can 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:

• Adding Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) to a regular bath or a sitz bath
• Avoiding excessive wiping after a bowel movement and using a bidet or a peri bottle instead
• Taking stool softeners to make stools easier to pass
• Using a sitz bath

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 IBS can include:

• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Alternating diarrhea and constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• White mucus in stool
• A sensation that a bowel movement isn’t complete

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 the Bristol Stool Chart to help you understand.

Treatment may include dietary and lifestyle changes, such as:

• Eating enough fiber
• Avoiding gluten
• Following a FODMAP diet
• Getting enough exercise
• Reducing stress
• Getting quality sleep

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 the digestive system and other areas of the body. Depending on how the disease expresses itself, IBD may cause diarrhea and/or constipation. 

There are many symptoms of IBD, which can include:

• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Lack of appetite
• Mouth sores
• Mucus in the stool 
• Nausea
• Rectal bleeding
• Stomach pain
• Unintended weight loss
• Urgent bowel movements

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.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are 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 are:

• Bleeding (blood might be seen on the toilet paper or the stool)
• Feeling as though there is “something” in the anus or rectum
• Itching in or around the anus
• Pain in or around the anus
• Pain while having a bowel movement
• Rectal pain

Treating hemorrhoids begins with home and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies to reduce the swelling and the pain. Some treatments include:

• Avoiding wiping after a bowel movement and instead using a peri bottle (a water-filled squirt bottle designed to reach the perianal area) or a bidet (a bathroom fixture or toilet attachment that sprays water on the perianal area)
• Trying OTC creams or ointments to reduce swelling and pain
• Treating any underlying diarrhea or constipation
• Using sitz baths (sitting in a shallow pan of warm water for 10 or more minutes)
• Using medicated wipes or witch hazel after bowel movements

When hemorrhoids don’t respond to any at-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.

Proctitis

Proctitis is inflammation in the lining of the rectum. Proctitis can be caused by:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and genital herpes are examples of STIs that can occur from unprotected anal sex.
• Autoimmune conditions: Inflammatory bowel disease, specifically Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, can inflame the rectum.
• Food poisoning: Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter infections are examples of food poisoning.
• Non-STI Infection: Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection causes excessive diarrhea and is often related to antibiotic use.

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:

• Constantly feeling like you need to have a bowel movement
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Blood in your poop, which may appear bright to dark red or black
• Rectal bleeding
• Mucus or pus in your stool

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.

STIs in the anus are typically caused by unprotected anal sex. Symptoms may include anal pain, discharge, pain with bowel movements, and abdominal pain.

Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis are bacterial infections that respond to antibiotic treatment. Herpes is a viral infection and can be managed with antiviral medications.

Cancer

Colon and rectal cancer usually begins with growths on the inner wall of the intestine called polyps. 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:

• Anal discharge
• Blood in or on the stools
• Change in bowel habits (pooping more or less frequently)
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Growths in the anal canal
• Pain, irritation, or itching in the anal area
• Unintended weight loss

Treatments for colon and rectal cancer can include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. Colon cancer treatment is 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:

• Black or tarry stools
• Bloody stools
• Constipation that is ongoing (chronic)
• Diarrhea that goes on for three days or more
• Lumps or bumps in or around the anus
• Severe abdominal pain or cramps

Prevention

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 enjoy spicy 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 of fiber-rich foods in 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 have regular colorectal cancer screenings beginning at age 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.