Medical Advisory BoardAll articles are reviewed for accuracy by our Medical Advisory Board
Educational purpose only • Exercise caution as content is pending human review
Article Review Status
Submitted
Under Review
Approved

Last updated: July 16, 2025View editorial policy

Personalize

Help us tailor your experience

Which best describes you? Your choice helps us use language that's most understandable for you.

Differential Diagnosis for "Feeling like poop stuck in my bum"

  • Single most likely diagnosis
    • Constipation: This is the most common cause of the sensation of having feces stuck in the rectum. It occurs when bowel movements are infrequent or difficult to pass, often due to a low-fiber diet, inadequate hydration, or physical inactivity.
  • Other Likely diagnoses
    • Hemorrhoids: Swollen veins in the lowest part of the rectum or anus can cause discomfort, pain, and the sensation of having something stuck.
    • Anal fissure: A small tear in the lining of the anus can cause sharp pain and a feeling of incomplete evacuation or something being stuck.
    • Rectal prolapse: A condition where the rectum loses its normal attachments inside the body, allowing it to protrude out through the anus, which can cause a sensation of something being stuck.
  • Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
    • Rectal cancer: Although less common, rectal cancer can cause a sensation of something being stuck in the rectum, along with other symptoms like bleeding, changes in bowel habits, and weight loss.
    • Intussusception: A condition where a part of the intestine slides into an adjacent part, potentially cutting off blood supply, which is rare in adults but can cause severe abdominal pain and the sensation of something being stuck.
  • Rare diagnoses
    • Rectal foreign body: The presence of an object in the rectum, which can cause a range of symptoms including the sensation of something being stuck.
    • Proctalgia fugax: A condition characterized by sudden, severe pain in the anus that can also cause a feeling of something being stuck, though it's more about pain than the sensation of an object.
    • Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome: A condition that can cause rectal pain, difficulty passing stools, and the sensation of incomplete evacuation, which might be interpreted as something being stuck.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

Have a follow-up question?

Our Medical A.I. is used by practicing medical doctors at top research institutions around the world. Ask any follow up question and get world-class guideline-backed answers instantly.