How Often Should You Poop?

Everyone poops. But how often? Given the fact that modern society has, for good reason, sequestered the ritual to isolation, it’s normal to wonder what it’s like—and the frequency with which it happens—for everyone else.

Here’s the thing about poop that any G.I. doc will excitedly tell you: There’s a lot that bowel movements can clue you in on when it comes to your health—and frequency is part of that. If you haven’t heard, gut health is huge right now. There are even start-ups that are developing “smart toilets” to analyze your poop as it passes through your toilet.)

We talked to gastroenterologists about exactly how often you should poop and what to do if you’re going too frequently or not frequently enough.

How often you should poop?

According to Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, MD, a gastroenterologist and author of the upcoming book, Plant-Powered Plus, it’s considered healthy to poop anywhere from three times a day to once every three days. Yes, it’s quite a range, but Dr. Bulsiewicz emphasizes that what’s a healthy normal for one person isn’t a healthy normal for someone else. If you’re a once-a-day pooper (which Dr. Bulsiewicz says is the most common frequency), pooping once every three days may sound horrible to you. But for some people, this slower frequency is a-okay.

Dr. Ekta Gupta, MD, FACG, the chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Midtown Campus, agrees, adding that how often someone poops is impacted by their diet, water intake, and physical activity.

“To really understand what’s happening with your body, looking at how often you poop is only one piece of the puzzle,” says Dr. Bulsiewicz. “It’s not just important how often you poop. What your poop looks like and how you feel is also important.” With this in mind, it’s a good idea to check out your poop before you flush. The docs we talked to say that, ideally, you want a sausage-like log with a smooth surface that’s soft and formed, which you can pass easily without straining.

Even if how often you poop falls within the normal spectrum, if you don’t feel like you’ve completely emptied your bowels after you go or you’re regularly dealing with bloating, Dr. Bulsiewicz says that these are signs that something is up. And if there’s blood in your stool or you’re experiencing intense pain and a fever, that’s a sign to see a healthcare provider immediately.