Black Stools: Causes, Symptoms & When to See a Doctor

Black poop could simply result from foods you've eaten. However, black, tarry stools can be a sign of bleeding in your digestive tract. This can be in your esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach) or farther down.

Here are some possible reasons why your poop is black:

Pepto-Bismol

This over-the-counter medicine contains bismuth subsalicylate. This can temporarily darken your stools.

Iron supplements

These supplements can cause stool to turn black or dark green.

Black licorice

Sometimes eating a lot of black licorice can lead to black stools. This is temporary.

Foods with dark coloring

These include blueberries, blackberries, cherries and beets.

Bleeding in your digestive system

This is typically what causes black, tarry stools. It's important to get this checked out by a doctor right away.

The two most common reasons for upper digestive bleeding are:

* Esophageal varices: These are swollen blood vessels in your esophagus. People with advanced liver disease are at risk for these.

* Peptic ulcers: These are sores in the lining of your stomach or your first part of the small intestine.

Lower digestion bleeding might be caused by conditions such as:

* Diverticulosis: These are pouches that form in your colon. When these pouches bleed, they can turn stool black.

* Colon polyps or tumors: These are often found during a colonoscopy, which is a screening test for colon cancer.

* Inflammatory bowel disease: This can lead to ulcers forming on the lining of the colon and rectum, which may bleed.