Bowel Movement Record
Bristol Stool Scale
Related Terms · Bristol Stool Scale · Stool Shape Scale
The Bristol Stool Scale is a recording method that categorizes stool shape from Type 1 (hard lumps) to Type 7 (watery stool).
Overview
Bristol Stool Scale: Three things to note first
- The Bristol Stool Scale is a tool used to describe bowel movements by dividing stool shapes into Types 1 through 7.
- The numbers are not diagnostic names, and they can vary for the same person depending on diet, medication, and general condition.
- Along with the shape, you should record the frequency, urgency,tenesmuspain, and changes in color.
Definitions and Distinctions
What is the Bristol Stool Scale?
Even if it is difficult to take photos, recording by number makes it constipationeasier to compare diarrhea and changes before and after treatment using the same standard. The Bristol Stool Scale is a recording method that categorizes stool shape from Type 1 (hard lumps) to Type 7 (watery, no solid pieces).
- Easily Confused Terms
- The difference is that bowel movement frequency refers to how many times you went, while the Bristol Stool Scale describes the shape of a single bowel movement.
- Why this is checked during the medical evaluation
- Irritable Bowel SyndromeThis complements changes that might be missed by frequency alone when discussing subtypes and responses to laxatives or antidiarrheals.
- Information to prepare
- For one week, please record the date, time of bowel movement, stool shape number, level of urgency, and any changes abdominal pain Please also note any changes.
More details
Connecting the Bristol Stool Scale to your symptoms
You can record the shape from Type 1 to Type 7 instead of taking photos of stool
Small, hard lumps are close to Type 1, smooth and soft stools are Type 4, and watery stools with no solid pieces are close to Type 7. This is not a test to get the exact number right, but a tool to compare changes without using different descriptions every time.
Please add the amount of straining and urgency to the number
Even for Type 4, some may struggle for a long time or feel a strong sense of incomplete evacuation; similarly, the level of urgency for Type 6 can vary. Recording abdominal pain, straining time, and urgency along with the date, time, and shape number allows for a more accurate comparison before and after constipation or diarrhea treatment.
A one-week record shows the distribution of numbers and symptoms together
Rather than trying to pick the perfect number every time, record the closest shape, and if it differs several times a day, record each instance. Include straining time, feeling of incomplete evacuation, urgency, abdominal pain, and the use of constipation medication. Do not record black tarry stools or bloody stools only as Types 1–7; take a photo and notify medical staff immediately. Also, separately mark any unusual colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions regarding the Bristol Stool Scale
Which type is considered normal?
Generally, Types 3 to 4 are associated with comfortable bowel movements, but a single stool shape is not used to distinguish between normal and diseased states. If Types 1 to 2 recur, we look for patterns of constipation; if Types 6 to 7 recur, we look for patterns of diarrhea.
Should black stools or stools mixed with blood also be recorded using this scale?
The Bristol Stool Scale is a tool for observing shape, so color and bleeding must be checked separately. If you see black, sticky stools or bright red bloody stools, record only the number and seek medical evaluation without waiting.
Gastrointestinal Glossary
Compare similar terms here
You can proceed to a detailed explanation after confirming the simple meaning.Read More
Check guides where this term is used
- Condition GuideIrritable Bowel SyndromeThe core of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms is the simultaneous occurrence of recurrent abdominal pain related to bowel movements and changes in the frequency and form of stool. There is the diarrhea-predominant type, characterized by loose stools and sudden urgency; the constipation-predominant type, characterized by hard stools, straining, and a strong feeling of incomplete evacuation; and the mixed type, where both patterns alternate. Abdominal bloating and white mucus may accompany these, and symptoms may fluctuate after meals, in the morning, or due to sleep or tension, but diarrhea or gas alone is not diagnosed as IBS. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a different condition where intestinal inflammation and damage are confirmed; therefore, if there is bloody stool, black stool, anemia, unexplained weight loss, fever, or diarrhea that wakes you up at night, it is not dismissed as IBS. Severe dehydration or persistent vomiting requires prompt gastrointestinal or emergency evaluation first.→
- Condition GuideChronic ConstipationChronic constipation is not judged by the number of bowel movements per week alone. We also look at whether there is a recurrence of hard, dry, or lumpy stools; straining or painful bowel movements; a feeling of incomplete evacuation; a feeling of blockage at the anus; and difficulty evacuating without the help of fingers or perineal support. If there is a feeling of blockage at the exit and repeated digital manipulation despite loose stools, we also check for issues in the evacuation process, such as pelvic floor outlet obstruction. Even if you go to the bathroom every day, an evaluation is necessary if you sit for a long time due to these symptoms and it disrupts your commute, outings, or sleep. If sudden severe abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, and vomiting occur, and no stool or gas is passed at all, or if there is bloody stool, rectal bleeding, fever, or unintentional weight loss, do not take more laxatives and seek prompt medical evaluation.→
- Medical Evaluation GuideWhat should I record for a week when diarrhea and constipation alternate?Rather than recording only the food eaten, please write the time of bowel movement, the Bristol Stool Scale type, and the degree of abdominal pain and urgency before and after the movement on the same line. Recording good days is also necessary to compare what was different. If you have bloody stools, black stools, dehydration, or a high fever, do not wait until you finish your records.→
- Digestive Health ColumnWhen diarrhea and constipation alternate, how can the rhythm of the bowel be restored?→
Evidence and Update Information
The definitions and safety standards in the materials below were referenced.
- NIDDK: Irritable Bowel SyndromeReference materials for the definition of the Bristol Stool Scale and details to be checked during medical evaluation
- NIDDK: Symptoms and Causes of ConstipationReferenced the reasons for observing straining and the feeling of incomplete evacuation along with stool shape.