What causes narrow stools? Should I be concerned?

Answer From Elizabeth Rajan, M.D.

Narrow stools that occur infrequently probably are harmless. In some cases, however , narrow stools — especially if pencil thin — may be a sign of narrowing or obstruction of the colon due to colon cancer.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is another condition that may cause changes in the size of your stools, so that they're smaller, larger or narrower than usual. IBS also causes changes in the consistency of stools.

Check with your doctor if you notice any changes in the appearance of your stool — such as narrower than normal stools — that last longer than 1 to 2 weeks. Consult your doctor immediately if your bowel changes are accompanied by rectal bleeding or severe abdominal pain.

With

Elizabeth Rajan, M.D.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

July 02, 2022 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Mucus in stool: A concern?
  2. Stool color: When to worry
  3. Undigested food in stool
  4. White stool: Should I be concerned?