Are you constipated?
Constipation means your stools are hard and you have trouble passing them. If your stools are soft and pass easily, you are not constipated.
How old are you?
Less than 12 years
Less than 12 years
12 years or older
12 years or older
Are you male or female?
- If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
- If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
- If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as "male" and once as "female"). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.
Do you have moderate or severe belly pain?
This is not the cramping type of pain you have with diarrhea.
Have you had:
At least 1 stool that is mostly black or bloody?
At least 1 stool mostly black or bloody
At least 1 stool that is partly black or bloody?
At least 1 stool partly black or bloody
Streaks of blood in your stool?
Streaks of blood in stool
Have you had any stool leak from your rectum?
How much leakage has there been?
Sometimes with severe constipation you may leak a little bit of loose stool. This usually isn't serious, but you also shouldn't ignore it. Sudden leakage of a lot of stool is more serious.
A lot of stool
Leakage of large amount of stool
A small amount of stool
Leakage of small amount of stool
Has there been a recent injury to the rectum or vagina?
Physical or sexual abuse and other injuries to these areas can cause problems like rectal pain and bleeding, urination problems, constipation, and vaginal bleeding.
Yes
Recent injury to rectum or vagina
No
Recent injury to rectum or vagina
Do you have pain in the rectal area?
How bad is the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, if 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain you can imagine?
8 to 10: Severe pain
Severe pain
5 to 7: Moderate pain
Moderate pain
1 to 4: Mild pain
Mild pain
Does the rectal pain last for more than 30 minutes after you have a bowel movement?
Yes
Rectal pain continues for more than 30 minutes after bowel movement
No
Rectal pain continues for more than 30 minutes after bowel movement
Is pain preventing you from having a bowel movement?
Yes
Rectal pain is preventing bowel movement
No
Rectal pain is preventing bowel movement
Do you think that a
medicine could be causing the constipation?
Think about whether the constipation started after you began taking a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.
Yes
Medicine may be causing constipation
No
Medicine may be causing constipation
Is constipation a new problem for you?
Yes
Constipation is a new problem
No
Constipation is a new problem
Do you have other symptoms, such as a fever, shaking chills, or vomiting?
Yes
Other symptoms, such as fever, shaking chills, or vomiting
No
Other symptoms, such as fever, shaking chills, or vomiting
Have you tried home treatment for constipation for more than 1 week?
Home treatment includes things like drinking plenty of water; eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; and getting some exercise every day.
Yes
Tried home treatment for constipation for more than 1 week
No
Tried home treatment for constipation for more than 1 week
Can you have a bowel movement without the help of a laxative?
Yes
Able to have bowel movement without using laxatives
No
Unable to have bowel movement without using laxatives
Have you been using laxatives for more than 2 weeks?
Yes
Has been using laxatives for more than 2 weeks
No
Has been using laxatives for more than 2 weeks
Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:
- Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
- Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
- Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
- Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
- Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.
Try Home Treatment
You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.
- Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
- Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.
Blood in the stool can come from anywhere in the digestive tract, such as the stomach or intestines. Depending on where the blood is coming from and how fast it is moving, it may be bright red, reddish brown, or black like tar.
A little bit of bright red blood on the stool or on the toilet paper is often caused by mild irritation of the rectum. For example, this can happen if you have to strain hard to pass a stool or if you have a hemorrhoid.
A large amount of blood in the stool may mean a more serious problem is present. For example, if there is a lot of blood in the stool, not just on the surface, you may need to call your doctor right away. If there are just a few drops on the stool or in the diaper, you may need to let your doctor know today to discuss your symptoms. Black stools may mean you have blood in the digestive tract that may need treatment right away, or may go away on its own.
Certain medicines and foods can affect the color of stool. Diarrhea medicines (such as Pepto-Bismol) and iron tablets can make the stool black. Eating lots of beets may turn the stool red. Eating foods with black or dark blue food coloring can turn the stool black.
If you take aspirin or some other medicine (called a blood thinner) that prevents blood clots, it can cause some blood in your stools. If you take a blood thinner and have ongoing blood in your stools, call your doctor to discuss your symptoms.
Pain in adults and older children
- Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain.
- Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days. Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there.
- Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.
Many prescription and nonprescription medicines can cause constipation. A few examples are:
- Antacids.
- Antidepressants.
- Some blood pressure medicines.
- Cold medicines (antihistamines).
- Calcium and iron supplements.
- Opioid pain medicines.
Seek Care Today
Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.
- Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
- If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today.
- If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
- If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner.
Seek Care Now
Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.
- Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
- If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour.
- You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
- You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
- You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.
Make an Appointment
Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care.
- Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks.
- If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment.
- If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. You may need care sooner.
Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older
Constipation, Age 11 and Younger