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Diverticulosis: Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention

Older adults can develop this condition that causes blood in the stool, though many don’t have symptoms. Learn more about its causes and how to treat it.
A light blue circle with a pink intestine looping through it. It enters on the upper left and goes almost all the way to the other side before looping around and exiting through the lower left. Inside is a darker pink tube with protrusions that make the outer tube bulge. One on the upper right is larger than the rest and five actions lines emanate from the bulge.
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Written by Shria Kumar, MD.
Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Last updated January 15, 2021

Diverticulosis quiz

Take a quiz to find out if you have diverticulosis.

Diverticulosis quiz

Take a quiz to find out if you have diverticulosis.

Take diverticulosis quiz

What is diverticulosis?

The walls of your large intestine can become weak in certain spots. A poor diet and not exercising enough are two reasons it can happen, but most commonly, it's just a function of age. When this happens, small outpouchings can be created, these are called diverticula.

If this happens, you have diverticulosis. It usually happens in the colon, which is in the lower intestines.

Pro Tip

They may sound alike, but there is a huge difference between diverticulosis—having diverticula, pouches in your intestine—and diverticulitis, which is an infection of diverticula. —Dr. Shria Kumar

It is more common in Western countries and in older adults. For most people, diverticulosis doesn’t create any symptoms or problems. But about 25% of people who get it will have some symptoms, most commonly bleeding or infection.

In some cases, the diverticular can become infected. This is called diverticulitis. That can lead to complications.

Most common symptoms

Most people don’t know they have diverticulosis. It never causes them trouble. Their doctor just notices the pouches during a routine colonoscopy or imaging of the abdomen (like an MRI or CT scan).

But 25% of people with diverticulosis do have symptoms. Usually, it’s blood in their stool. Or if they develop diverticulitis, it can cause fever, chills, and pain in their abdomen.

Main symptoms

  • Bleeding
  • If it’s infected, you'll get fever, chills, and pain in the abdomen

Diverticulosis quiz

Take a quiz to find out if you have diverticulosis.

Take diverticulosis quiz

What makes you more likely to have diverticulosis?

  • Living in the Western world (Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America)
  • Getting older
  • A diet high in red meat
  • Obesity
  • Lack of exercise
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Having a family history of diverticulosis

Pro Tip

Most people in the US above age 65 have diverticulosis. And for most, it causes absolutely no symptoms or problems whatsoever. So just because you are told you have diverticula does not mean you should expect to have any symptoms from it. —Dr. Kumar

Next steps

If your stool is bloody or black, call your primary care doctor right away. Bloody stool can be caused by a number of reasons, and you need to get a proper diagnosis.

Also call your doctor if you get a fever along with pain in your abdomen. It could be a sign of an infection.

What is diverticulitis pain like?

Diverticulitis can be very painful. It causes pain, usually in one area of the abdomen, and can be accompanied by fevers or chills, nausea, and fatigue.

What is the main cause of diverticulosis?

It’s unclear what causes diverticulosis. When the wall of the intestines is weakened,  pouches (diverticula) form. Then they bulge, sometimes causing symptoms or becoming infected. There’s some evidence that a “Western diet,” or a diet low in fiber contributes to the problem.

Dr. Rx

If you haven’t had a recent colonoscopy, but have had an episode of diverticulitis, ask your doctor if you need a colonoscopy. You want to make sure the infection was not due to something else (inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, etc). —Dr. Kumar

Diverticulosis quiz

Take a quiz to find out if you have diverticulosis.

Take diverticulosis quiz

What is the best treatment for diverticulosis?

There is no treatment for diverticulosis. But if you are having issues related to diverticula (bleeding or infection), those will be treated.

If you have blood in your stool, you may be admitted to a hospital depending on the severity of your bleeding and your overall health profile and condition. There, they will watch your blood counts, and give you more blood if needed.

If you have an infection, you will need antibiotics. In rare cases or with repeated episodes, diverticulosis may require surgery to remove the affected part of the colon.

Ready to treat your diverticulosis?

We show you only the best treatments for your condition and symptoms—all vetted by our medical team. And when you’re not sure what’s wrong, Buoy can guide you in the right direction.See all treatment options
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Prevention

Do your best to reduce your risk factors. Lose weight if you’re overweight, exercise regularly, and quit smoking. It's not clear that a diet high in fiber will reduce the risk. But let your doctor know if you don’t have daily bowel movements.

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The stories shared below are not written by Buoy employees. Buoy does not endorse any of the information in these stories. Whenever you have questions or concerns about a medical condition, you should always contact your doctor or a healthcare provider.
Therapeutic Endoscopy Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dr. Kumar is a gastroenterologist, who completed her fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She received her undergraduate degrees in Religious Studies and Chemistry from New York University (2010) and graduated from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2014), where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She is completing her t...
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