If you're having formed bowel movements more often, chances are you've made some change in your lifestyle. For example, you may be eating more whole grains, which raises how much fiber you get in your diet.

More-frequent bowel movements could also be caused by a mild illness that will take care of itself. If there are no other symptoms, you're probably in good health.

Diseases and other conditions that may cause frequent bowel movements and other symptoms include:

• Salmonella infection or other infections that may be caused by bacteria.
• Rotavirus or infections caused by other viruses.
• Giardia infection (giardiasis) or other infections caused by parasites.
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea or other problems caused by medicines.
• Celiac disease
• Crohn's disease a kind of disease that causes the bowels to swell.
• Ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease)
• Lactose intolerance
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) also known as overactive thyroid.

See a healthcare professional if you have the following symptoms and more-frequent bowel movements:

• Changes in what your bowel movements look like or how large they are, such as passing narrow, ribbonlike stools or loose, watery stools.
• Stomach pain.
• Blood or mucus in your feces.