Gas is a normal part of digestion. You expel gas by burping or farting. But there are times when you may release a wet fart that has a “liquid” sound and/or includes liquid stool. What does this mean?

Why do I have wet farts?

Wet farts are often surprising and distressing, but they are usually nothing to worry about.

For example, watery farts are often a result of temporary changes in your diet. If you suddenly eat a huge bowl of chili with beans one night, for instance, the result may be a wet fart the next day. That’s a minor, easily explainable occurrence.

But that’s not always the case. Liquid farts can be a sign of certain illnesses and digestive disorders. We’ll discuss these in a moment. But first, let’s discuss intestinal gas in general.

The digestive system and gas

As a byproduct of digestion, gas is unavoidable, frequent, and released gradually throughout the day. The two main ways gas is created are:

1. Swallowed air
2. Bacterial fermentation of fiber in the colon

Swallowed air

You may not be aware of it, but you swallow about 2 quarts of air per day primarily through eating and drinking. ¹ This air initially goes to your stomach. About half of it is burped out. The rest travels through the intestines and is released via the rectum as flatulence.

Other factors that contribute to swallowed air include:

• Laughing
• Eating or drinking too fast
• Drinking through a straw
• Smoking
• Nasal congestion
• Strenuous exercise that causes you to “gulp” air
• Anxiety induced hyperventilation
• Using CPAP, a machine that treats sleep apnea by forcing air into the airways through a mask and a tube

Intestinal fermentation

Resistant starches and soluble fibers are not digested in the small intestine. Instead, they are moved to the large intestine to be fermented by good bacteria. This fermentation process creates gas– composed mostly of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane — that leaves the body when you pass gas.

On average, humans fart between 14 and 23 times per day,² whether you’re awake or asleep. If you didn’t fart, the gas would build up, causing extreme pain. Eventually, your intestines would explode.

What causes a wet release?

A wet fart typically occurs when there’s fluid or mucus present in the rectum. Here are a few of the most common reasons for watery farts.

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What Causes Wet Farts?

Incomplete poops: Not completing a bowel movement leaves poop in your rectum that may be forced out with a fart.
Lactose intolerance: Lactose intolerance, the inability to absorb the sugar in dairy products (lactase), sends lactase to your colon, where bacteria break it down, creating fluid and gas. This can lead to wet farts.
Gluten intolerance: Wheat. Barley. Rye. These grains contain a protein called gluten that, in some people, cause adverse reactions, including diarrhea and wet farts.
Diarrhea: Diarrhea often occurs when food passes so quickly through the digestive system that the intestines don’t have a chance to absorb the fluids. This can cause watery stool to slip out when you release gas.
Certain medications: Medications can have a huge effect on your digestive system. Taking antibiotics, for instance, destroys some of the good bacteria in your gut that you need for proper digestion. This can cause diarrhea and wet farts.
Digestive disorders: Some digestive disorders cause stinky farts because they inhibit proper absorption. Celiac disease, for instance, is an autoimmune disorder in which the body cannot handle gluten. If you eat gluten, the immune system damages the lining of the small intestine, preventing absorption. See your doctor if you think you have a digestive disorder.

End Infographic Text

Diarrhea

Diarrhea can occur when food passes so quickly through the digestive system that the intestines don’t have a chance to absorb the fluids. This can cause watery stool to slip out when you release gas.

Symptoms of diarrhea

Symptoms are varied and include:

• Loose, watery stools
• Urgent need to have bowel movements
• Stomach cramps/pain
• Gas
• Bloating
• Nausea

Causes of diarrhea

Many factors can lead to this condition, including ³

• Dietary factors, i.e., a sudden increase in dietary fiber
• Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
• Viruses, such as viral hepatitis
• Food intolerance
• Artificial sweeteners
• Certain medications, i.e., antibiotics
• Digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome

Diarrhea is typically short-lived, but if it persists for more than a couple of days, see your doctor as this could signal a more serious condition. Persistent diarrhea can also lead to dehydration, a life-threatening condition if not treated.

Incomplete bowel movements

Incomplete bowel movement, also called incomplete evacuation, may also lead to wet farts. This is because the feces remaining in your rectum can be forced out with the passage of gas.

Symptoms of an incomplete bowel movement

Symptoms vary depending on the cause and include:⁴

• Feeling fullness in the rectum
• Wet farts
• Change in poop frequency
• Bloating
• Gas
• Dry hard, pellet-like stools that are difficult to pass
• Straining to have a bowel movement

Causes of incomplete evacuation

Causes include:⁵

• Constipation
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Inflamed rectal lining (Proctitis)
• Pelvic floor disorders
• Colon infection
• Colon cancer

Incomplete emptying of the bowels is typically a short-lived sporadic occurrence. But it can also be a sign of a more serious condition.

Therefore, if you frequently have this issue and it’s accompanied by bloody stool, fever/chills, stomach pain/cramps, or nausea/vomiting, see your doctor.

Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. This is caused by an insufficient amount of lactase, the enzyme needed to break down and absorb lactose. According to research, approximately 70% of the global population has a reduced ability to digest lactose.⁶

Lactose is normally digested in the small intestine. But if you’re lactose intolerant, it passes into the colon, where bacteria break down some of it. This causes smelly farts. The remaining lactose also pulls water into the colon, creating diarrhea-like bowel movements that can lead to occasional wet farts.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance

If you experience any of these symptoms soon after eating or drinking dairy products, you may be lactose intolerant:

• Flatulence (farting)
• Gas
• Bloating
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Stomach pain

If you think you may be lactose intolerant, remove dairy products from your diet to see if that relieves your symptoms. If they persist, it might be a sign of a more serious condition, and you should see your doctor.

Gluten intolerance

Gluten intolerance is a condition in which the body reacts badly to eating gluten, the protein found primarily in wheat, barley, and rye. There are two types of gluten intolerance: non-celiac gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.

An estimated 0.5–13% of people may have non-celiac gluten sensitivity.⁷ The exact cause of this condition is unknown at this time. It is typically diagnosed if the symptoms resolve after gluten is removed from the diet and if you test negative for celiac disease.⁸

Celiac disease, a more serious form of gluten intolerance, is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the lining of the small intestine when gluten is eaten. Eventually, this can damage the digestive system and prevent the absorption of some nutrients.

About 1% of the population is believed to have celiac disease.⁹

Symptoms of gluten intolerance

The symptoms of this condition are widespread and go far beyond digestive discomfort. Symptoms include:

• Stomach pain or cramping
• Gas
• Bloating
• Diarrhea/wet farts
• Constipation
• Stinky flatulence
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Psoriasis and other skin problems
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Joint pain
• Brain fog
• And more

If you have any of these symptoms, try eliminating gluten from your diet and see if this helps. However, if you have severe symptoms, see your doctor immediately to test for celiac. If you have this disease, you’ll need to remove all gluten from your diet to prevent damage to your digestive tract.

Conditions affecting the digestive tract

Here are a few disorders that affect the digestive tract and cause wet farts.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a chronic disorder that affects the large intestine. It is extremely common, affecting between 25 to 45 million people in the U.S.¹⁰

Symptoms include:

• Excessive gas
• Bloating
• Stomach pain/cramps
• Change in appearance and/or frequency of bowel movement
• Diarrhea
• Constipation

The exact cause of IBS is unknown, but symptoms are often triggered by certain foods or by stress.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

IBD is a condition in which the intestines become inflamed. The exact cause is unknown, but it’s believed to be related to immune dysfunction that triggers inflammation. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 1.3% of U.S. adults (3 million) reported being diagnosed with IBD in 2015.¹¹ There are 2 main types of IBD: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Crohn’s Disease: Chronic inflammation in the digestive tract that can involve any part of the large and small intestines. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe and include:¹²

• Gas
• Diarrhea
• Rectal bleeding
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Abdominal pain/cramping
• Weight loss
• Nausea/vomiting

Crohn’s disease can sometimes have severe and even deadly health complications, so if you notice persistent changes in your bowel habits or if you have any of the signs above, see your doctor.

Ulcerative Colitis: Chronic inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum. This can lead to sores in the digestive system. Signs include:

• Diarrhea
• Pain or bleeding in the rectum
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Urgency to poop
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Weight loss

Like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis can lead to life-threatening complications. Therefore, you should see your doctor if you experience any of the above signs.

Certain medications

Some medications that irritate the gastrointestinal tract can lead to an occasional wet fart. For instance, antibiotics destroy good bacteria in the intestines. This can cause runny stool and wet farts. Another one is Alli, an over-the-counter weight loss aid that blocks the absorption of fat.

If you experience wet farts while on medication, speak to your doctor. They may be able to prescribe a medication that will be gentler on your digestive system. (Never stop taking medication without medical advice.)

How to prevent wet farts

If wet farts happen frequently, you should see your doctor to rule out a serious health condition. Otherwise, there are a few easy things you can do to firm up your stool and reduce the chances of wet gas seeping out.

Increase fiber intake

Dietary fiber absorbs water and helps to firm up watery stool. High-fiber foods include:

• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Beans
• Oats
• Kale
• Spinach
• Almonds
• Chia seeds
• Oranges
• Avocadoes
• Blueberries
• Whole grains

Drink lots of water with your fiber food, as this aids digestion. Also, to avoid digestive distress such as gas and bloating, be sure to gradually increase your fiber intake.

Avoid trigger foods

Lactose. Gluten. Even fructose, the sugar found in many fruits, vegetables, and processed foods in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, can trigger digestive upset. If you’ve noticed that certain foods often trigger watery stools and wet farts, try to avoid them.

Reduce stress

Stress is known to cause loose stools and other digestive issues. Although you can’t avoid all stress, here are a few things you can do to reduce it.

• Meditate for 10-20 minutes twice a day, preferably once in the morning and once in the evening.
• Take a few long, deep breaths whenever you feel the stress building
• Practice progressive muscle relaxation exercises
• Take leisurely walks or bicycle rides

Avoid swallowing air

Though swallowing air is unavoidable, here are a few things you can do to reduce your intake of this gas-producing activity.

• Don’t drink through a straw
• Toss the chewing gum
• Don’t smoke
• Eat and drink slowly

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