What Is Fecal Impaction?
Updated on July 7, 2026
ON THIS PAGE
ON THIS PAGE
Everyone poops, but sometimes, poor digestive health can lead to issues that make pooping difficult, such as constipation. In severe cases, backed-up stool can lead to fecal impaction, when a hard, dry plug of stool gets stuck in the rectum and cannot be passed.
Fecal impaction is rare, although people with severe, long-term constipation (which affects 9 to 20 percent of U.S. adults) may be at greater risk. Stuck, dried stool may eventually block the colon completely and require immediate medical intervention, such as medication or, in severe cases, surgery.
Signs and Symptoms of Fecal Impaction
Generally, you’ll know if you have a fecal impaction. Symptoms can be so severe that you may require emergency treatment, and include:
- Abdominal pain, especially after eating
- An ongoing urge to have a bowel movement
- Headache
- Bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Feeling under the weather
- Straining to pass stool
- Passing small, hard "marbles" of stool
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Stool leakage
- Watery stool
- A feeling of pressure on the bladder
- Loss of bladder control
- Low back pain
Causes and Risk Factors of Fecal Impaction
Chronic and severe constipation can lead to fecal impaction. The problem often occurs in children or in older adults who live in nursing homes. Indeed, a recent observational study of 30,439 people found that 13.4 percent of patients hospitalized for fecal impaction came from nursing homes.
Fecal impaction may also occur in people with neurological conditions, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and those with spinal cord injuries, as these can impact colon motility. It may also be a side effect of certain types of cancer or cancer treatments.
Children may develop a fecal impaction when they withhold stool during toilet training, fear passing stool because of previous pain or discomfort, avoid using the bathroom during play, or don't drink enough fluids or eat enough fiber. You may hear your doctor refer to the condition as encopresis.
Older adults may develop constipation and fecal impaction if they're sedentary. Lack of physical activity can make it tough for your digestive system to move stool. Your abdominal muscles may also become so weak that they cannot completely push stool out. In other cases, immobile older adults may be forced to hold stool because caregivers don’t take them to the bathroom regularly, or their colon can’t move stool properly.
Other factors that can contribute to the condition include poor diet and ignoring the need to use the bathroom because of busy schedules or other illnesses.
A few other possible causes include:
- Skimping on drinking fluids
- A diet that’s low in fiber
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- A history of chronic constipation
- Dependence on laxatives to have a bowel movement
- Medications that reduce intestinal movement, such as narcotic pain medications, iron supplements, or calcium supplements
- A disorder of the large intestine and rectum, such as Hirschsprung's disease or Chagas disease
- A thyroid condition or another metabolic disorder
How Is Fecal Impaction Diagnosed?
If you suspect you have fecal impaction, see your doctor. They will ask you questions about how you’ve been feeling, examine your abdomen, and perform a digital rectal exam with a gloved finger to check for a mass of impacted stool.
You may also need blood work or imaging procedures, such as a CT scan. Your doctor may suggest a colonoscopy after the fecal impaction has gone away, to make sure that this change in bowel movements isn’t a sign of colon cancer.
As long as fecal impaction is diagnosed and treated quickly, it generally won’t lead to complications; most people will go on to have normal bowel habits. One potential issue is that fecal impaction can recur. Research shows that people who’ve had fecal impactions in the past are at higher risk of getting them again if they have persistent constipation.
If constipation is a chronic issue, try to work with your healthcare provider or a specialist to address it.
Treatment and Medication Options for Fecal Impaction
In most cases, fecal impactions have to be cleared by a healthcare professional. They will use a gloved, lubricated finger to remove stool that can be reached from the rectum, also known as manual disimpaction.
Another technique involves softening the stool with an enema or rectal suppository so it can be eliminated. Or your doctor might prescribe an oral solution of polyethylene glycol, an oral laxative made of magnesium citrate, or an enema or suppository.
A combination of these treatments may be required to remove fecal impactions. In rare cases, a specialist may need to perform a lower gastrointestinal procedure or surgery to remove the impaction.
Physical therapy may help those who’ve experienced fecal impaction as a result of pelvic floor dysfunction.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
There are no official alternative therapies to treat fecal impaction; however, studies show that acupuncture and some herbal remedies like the fiber supplement psyllium can ease chronic constipation, which may reduce the risk of fecal impaction.
Lifestyle Changes and Prevention of Fecal Impaction
After fecal impaction is treated, it’s important to follow a bowel retraining program to prevent future episodes. You'll probably be instructed to:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat sufficient amounts of fiber. Adults should aim to get around 25 to 30 grams (g) per day from fiber-rich foods.
- Try bowel training, which involves conditioning yourself to pass stool at around the same time each day to avoid developing severe constipation again.
- Try Kegel exercises, which may help strengthen pelvic and rectal muscles.
- See a physical therapist if you’re experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction.
Other methods to prevent constipation, such as using the bathroom regularly, not delaying defecation, and getting regular exercise, can also help prevent fecal impaction.
Occasional use of over-the-counter stool softeners or fiber supplements can help, too. But be aware that using laxatives too often can compound the problem, making it more difficult to pass stool.
How Long Does Fecal Impaction Last?
Fecal impaction can build up over a long period of chronic constipation. But once it’s treated, it is resolved at that time. But since it can recur, particularly in older adults or sedentary people, your doctor may prescribe stool softeners, laxatives, or periodic enemas, along with diet and lifestyle changes, to keep your bowels running smoothly.
Complications of Fecal Impaction
If you suspect you have fecal impaction, it’s crucial to seek treatment, since the condition can lead to complications that could require hospitalization and even emergency surgery. These complications may include:
- An ulcer of the colon, also known as stercoral colitis
- Bowel obstruction, meaning you can’t have a bowel movement or even pass gas
- Perforation (a rupture that develops in your intestinal tract)
- Fecal incontinence, meaning you pass stool involuntarily
- Urinary incontinence, or peeing involuntarily
How Race Affects Fecal Impaction
Very few studies focus on the intersection of race and fecal impaction prevalence. That said, older research has found that Black Americans are at higher risk of chronic constipation symptoms, often because of socioeconomic factors.
Untreated constipation can, in turn, increase the risk of fecal impaction over time.
FAQ
How do you get rid of stool impaction?
Fecal impaction is typically cleared manually by a healthcare professional. They’ll use a gloved finger to sweep stool out of the rectum. Enemas and oral solutions may also be used.
What are the symptoms of fecal impaction?
Symptoms include watery stool, abdominal pain, an ongoing urge to defecate, bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. You may have to strain to pass stool, or pass hard "marbles" of stool.
How do you soften an impacted stool quickly?
Once treated, fecal impaction goes away quickly. Over-the-counter stool softeners, enemas, rectal suppositories, and oral laxatives can help you soften and eliminate the stool. Consult with your provider before using new medications.
Can you still poop with an impaction?
No, you usually cannot poop if you’re experiencing a fecal impaction. If you do, stool will be watery, very hard and small, or might leak out (fecal incontinence).
How long does it take to get rid of fecal impaction?
Fecal impaction can be treated quickly, but it can recur if chronic constipation remains. You and your doctor can discuss diet and lifestyle changes that can help you stay regular.
Resources We Trust
- Mayo Clinic: Constipation
- Cleveland Clinic: Fecal Impaction
- American College of Gastroenterology: Constipation and Defecation Problems
- Harvard Health Publishing: Constipation and Impaction
- Mount Sinai: Fecal Incontinence
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- Jung Oh S et al. Chronic Constipation in the United States: Results From a Population-Based Survey Assessing Healthcare Seeking and Use of Pharmacotherapy. American Journal of Gastroenterology. April 23, 2020.
- Fecal Impaction. MedlinePlus. October 20, 2025.
- Hoshi H et al. Socioeconomic Burden of Patients Hospitalized for Fecal Impaction: A Nationwide Retrospective Observational Study. BMC Gastroenterology. August 7, 2025.
- Constipation and Impaction. Harvard Health Publishing. July 10, 2023.
- Constipation and Cancer Treatment. National Cancer Institute. May 16, 2025.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. Encopresis. Mayo Clinic. September 19, 2025.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. Hirschsprung's Disease. Mayo Clinic. August 14, 2025.
- Chagas Disease (Also Known as American Trypanosomiasis). World Health Organization. April 8, 2026.
- Setya A et al. Fecal Impaction. StatPearls. July 4, 2023.
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Cleveland Clinic. January 12, 2024.
- Cao H et al. Acupuncture for Chronic Constipation. Cochrane Database System Reviews. April 18, 2023.
- Bowel Retraining. MedlinePlus. August 12, 2024.
- Increasing Fiber Intake. UCSF Health.
- Constipation: Causes and Prevention Tips. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- Laxatives: What to Know About Choosing the Right One. Harvard Health Publishing. March 25, 2026.
- Stercoral Colitis. Cleveland Clinic. December 15, 2025.
- Fecal Impaction. Cleveland Clinic. May 19, 2022.
- Friedenberg F et al. The Impact of Functional Constipation on Quality of Life of Middle-Aged Black Americans: A Prospective Case-Control Study. Quality of Life Research. February 14, 2013.
Meet Our Experts
Rabia de Latour, MD
Medical Reviewer
Rabia de Latour, MD, is a therapeutic endoscopist and gastroenterologist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where she serves as the director of endoscopy and chief sustainability ...
Paula Derrow
Author
Paula Derrow is a writer and editor in New York City who specializes in health, psychology, sexuality, relationships, and the personal essay. She was the articles director at Self ...