Going for a number two, using the facilities, dropping the kids off at the pool. We’ve come up with a number of ways to say we need to go for a poo, without actually saying it.
Why? Well, while it’s perfectly natural, it’s just a bit awkward. This feeling is even worse when you’re not in the comfort of your own bathroom — or worse, at work, knowing full well a colleague could walk into the cubicle after you.
In fact, the thought is so embarrassing that 76% of Brits admit to holding in their poo at some point. What’s worse is 25% have held it in for three hours, while 8% have waited up to six hours to relieve themselves, according to a study by ProVen Biotics.
‘It is very common for people to feel anxious or embarrassed about talking about bowel movements or using public toilets,’ Dr Suzanne Wylie tells Metro.
‘Social taboos, fear of smells or sounds, concerns about cleanliness, and worries about privacy all contribute.’
It’s a problem impacting women more than men, too. About 33% of women worry about whether their poo will smell (compared to a fifth of men), and 26% worry about the noises it will make in a public toilet (compared to 16% of men).
However, if you don’t relieve yourself when you need to, it could spell trouble for your health…
What holding in your poo really does to your body
There are multiple side effects you’ll experience if you’re consistently holding in your poop.
‘When stool remains in the bowel for longer than it should, more water is absorbed from it, making it harder, drier, and more difficult to pass,’ Dr Wylie for IQdoctor explains.
‘This can lead to constipation, straining, abdominal discomfort, bloating, and a feeling of incomplete emptying.’
But it’s not just feeling backed up that could be a problem for you. ‘In more severe cases, stool can become impacted, meaning it is so hard and large that it cannot be passed without medical treatment,’ the doctor adds.
When you eventually do try to go to the toilet, if you’ve made a habit of holding it in, you could also need to strain.
‘This increases pressure in the abdomen and around the anus, which can contribute to haemorrhoids (piles) and anal fissures, which are small tears in the lining of the back passage,’ Dr Wylie adds.
Not going will give you a feeling of sluggishness or heaviness in the abdomen, too. ‘Some people may also experience nausea or reduced appetite if the bowel becomes very backed up,’ she says.
‘In children and some adults, leakage of softer stool around impacted stool can occur, which can be distressing and embarrassing.’
Long term complications
If holding in your number twos is a habit, there’s a chance it could also lead to longer term complications in more serious cases.
‘Habitual stool retention can contribute to chronic constipation, recurrent haemorrhoids, and in some cases problems with pelvic floor function,’ Dr Wylie says.
‘It may also worsen conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.’
She adds that while holding in stool is unlikely to cause serious diseases on its own, like bowel cancer, it can significantly affect your quality of life and make bowel habits increasingly difficult to normalise.
Let it go
The best way to keep your bowels healthy is to go when you have the urge, no matter how awkward it makes you feel.
‘Our bowel is designed to move waste along at a steady pace using muscular contractions, so ignoring the urge to go can dull the normal reflexes over time, meaning the rectum becomes stretched and less sensitive,’ the doctor explains. ‘This makes it harder for the body to signal when it needs to empty.’
She says it’s generally best to go when you first notice the sensation, and while occasionally delaying it isn’t likely to cause you any problems, going on your body’s schedule is the best way to operate.
So grab a roll and settle in, whether you’re at work or home.
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