Read on to learn more about the different causes of watery flatulence and how to prevent it.

Also known as wet farts, watery flatulence may be due to what a person has eaten or drunk. An underlying health condition may also be the cause of wet farts, for example, a digestive disorder.

Watery flatulence is when liquid passes out alongside air when a person farts. This liquid could be mucus or watery stool. But what causes watery flatulence?

Share on Pinterest A wet fart may pass mucus or watery stool.



Flatulence, or farting, happens when gas from the intestines passes out through the rectum.

Farting is a daily and normal function of the body. It may happen if bacteria in the gut are not able to digest food properly before it reaches the colon.

Flatulence also happens when people swallow excess air. This can occur when someone chews gum, eats quickly, or drinks carbonated drinks.

Watery flatulence is when a fart feels wet because mucus or some watery stool passes out alongside gas. There are a number of causes of watery flatulence.

Wet farts may occur due to something a person has consumed. Other times, wet farts may be a symptom of an underlying health condition.

Read on to discover the various causes of watery flatulence.

Certain medications

Some medicines may cause watery flatulence and loose stools. Medications that may increase flatulence and could lead to wet farts include:

certain antibiotics

cholestyramine (for high cholesterol)

orlistat (Xenical)

medicines that contain sorbitol

As well as being an ingredient in some drugs, manufacturers also use sorbitol to sweeten sugar-free sweets. Sorbitol may increase flatulence.

Lactose intolerance

If a person has a lactose intolerance, eating dairy products may cause them to have watery flatulence.

Lactase is the enzyme in the body that breaks down the lactose found in dairy products. People who are lactose intolerant do not produce enough lactase to digest lactose properly.

Eating dairy products may cause a person with a lactose intolerance to have digestive issues and flatulence.

Gluten intolerance

People who have celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten may experience stomach discomfort after eating gluten. This may lead to watery flatulence.

Other symptoms a person with a gluten intolerance may notice after eating gluten include:

fatigue

headache

diarrhea or constipation

numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, or fingers

itchy skin rash

joint pain

Learn more about the signs of gluten intolerance.

Irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive disorders

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects the digestive system. IBS may cause flatulence and mucus to pass out of the rectum.

Other IBS symptoms include:

bloating

stomach pain and cramps

fatigue

nausea

aching back

lack of control over bowel movements

urgent or frequent need to urinate

diarrhea or constipation

Learn how to cope with IBS.

Other conditions affecting the gastrointestinal system may also cause watery flatulence. These conditions include inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s disease.

Although rare, cancer of the rectum is another possible cause of watery flatulence.

Pelvic surgery or treatment

Pelvic surgery or treatment may lead to watery flatulence or accidental leakage from the bowels. This normally only affects a person while they are recovering from their treatment.

Radiation therapy around the pelvic area is one form of treatment that may cause this symptom.

Conditions that affect nerve function

Certain health conditions that interfere with nerve function around the rectum may lead to watery flatulence. Impaired nerve function in this area of the body may reduce feeling and control over bowel movements.

Conditions that may affect nerve function around the rectum include:

Infections

Some infections can cause people to have loose stools or diarrhea. If someone has gas while they have diarrhea, it may come out as a watery fart.