# How do your stools rate on the Bristol Stool Form Scale? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 25, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183 "2009-07-25T01:28:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/1 "2009-07-25T01:28:23Z")
[Rate your stool](http://www.childhoodconstipation.com/gfx/bristol_stool.jpg). :eek: (Relatively work-safe and not intentionally gross) The link is a legitimate medical tool, widely used around the world to help collect clinical data. Type 1 stools are known as **scybalous** in medical jargon. Just one step up from a fecalith. Me, I’m generally a type 3 or type 4. How about you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/2 "2009-07-25T01:32:42Z")
Without getting too personal . . . I know that Type 4 is the healthiest (thank you, Dr. Oz). ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/3 "2009-07-25T01:38:45Z")
Ah, the Bristol scale…I had one day last month where I had every Type, from 1-7, in the space of 24 hours. I did get a whole book read that day in the bathroom… ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/4 "2009-07-25T01:43:52Z")
Pretty much a 4. Sometimes a 3 or 5 depending on how much meat/cheese/fiber I’ve had. I don’ t think of myself as having the most healthy diet out there, but what the hell are these people eating who apparently get constipated all the time? I have one movement a day - more if I had more of the aforementioned fiber - I can’t think of a day going by without passing stool ever in my life. If that changed, I’d be seriously worried. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/5 "2009-07-25T01:44:39Z")
4s and 5s. Do I get a 9? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/6 "2009-07-25T01:45:40Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > what the hell are these people eating who apparently get constipated all the time? Lots of times it’s not due to diet, but to anatomic abnormality or disease. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/7 "2009-07-25T01:48:38Z")
When the IB kicks in, type 9. Otherwise 4 or 5. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/8 "2009-07-25T01:53:07Z")
3 or 4. Is there a correct answer? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/9 "2009-07-25T01:55:37Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > . . . what the hell are these people eating who apparently get constipated all the time? It could be age-related. My mother lived to be 92, and her stools were like malted milk balls, in spite of the fiber in her diet. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/10 "2009-07-25T02:06:16Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Without getting too personal . . . I know that Type 4 is the healthiest (thank you, Dr. Oz). Woo hoo! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/11 "2009-07-25T02:08:00Z")
> [@Risha](#): > > 3 or 4. > > Is there a correct answer? Yes, 3 or 4 are more closely associated with a healthy colon and diet. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/12 "2009-07-25T02:14:57Z")
How would I know what my “stools” look like? Tell me, are any of you people perhaps of Germanic extraction? I ask because many of the toilets in that part of the world seem to have this sort of shelf, apparently designed to allow you to review your excretia before sending it on its way. Ick. Weird. As long as it’s somewhere between constipation and diarrhoea, I don’t want to know. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/13 "2009-07-25T02:40:26Z")
Seriously? I thought everyone looked before (and after) they flushed. Just seems like natural curiousity to me. I’m a 2, 3, or 4 depending on the day. I can vary between all three within 3 days. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/14 "2009-07-25T02:41:41Z")
Depends on what was for dinner the night before. Last night was corned beef and boiled veggies, so this morning was a good Type 4. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/15 "2009-07-25T02:54:30Z")
Usually Type 2. I had one week this summer where I was doing at least one or two hours of walking a day and I was Type 4 accompanied by frequent EXTREME ABDOMINAL PAINS. Rather confused by the idea of what is and is not healthy. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/16 "2009-07-25T03:52:38Z")
3 to 4. 3 is more usual, 4 occurs if I go higher fiber than usual, or if I’ve had a couple of drinks. I love the descriptions alongside the pictures. They’re evocative, and I can immediately remember occurrences of these types because of the terms, but it’s still funny to think of stool in terms of nuts, sausages, and fluffiness. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/17 "2009-07-25T04:35:06Z")
I’d say 80% of the time it’s a 4, 5% of the time a 5, and 10% of the time a 6. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/18 "2009-07-25T04:45:03Z")
Varies between 3 and 4. I’ve had 2 through 7 this year for sure but don’t think I’ve had a 1 in a long long time. Although, as a baby I used to have type 1 stools regularly and my parents tell me a story of a time I pooped behind a couch and my uncle mistook my type 1 stool for raisins and tried to eat them. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/19 "2009-07-25T05:46:28Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Yes, 3 or 4 are more closely associated with a healthy colon and diet. W00T! My colon rocks! ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183/20 "2009-07-25T06:12:40Z")
Oprah and Dr. Oz say that as long as it’s “S” or “C” shaped, you’re probably doing ok. Yeah, who doesn’t look? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-your-stools-rate-on-the-bristol-stool-form-scale/504183.md?page=2)