It is perhaps one of the most common health problems we all face – for some even on a weekly basis.
One in five regularly suffers from constipation, research shows.
And while pharmacy shelves are stocked with remedies claiming to offer a quick fix – from probiotic pills to slow-release laxatives – a top doctor says there is one fail-safe treatment that few know about.
Anal health expert Dr. Evan Goldstein recommends trying toys used in the bedroom to relax the rectum
Anal health expert Dr. Evan Goldstein is encouraging millions of Americans to try something new: toys.
In particular, he recommends devices designed for pleasure to stretch the rectum.
According to Dr. Goldstein, a New York anal surgeon whose new book Butt Seriously explores all things anal health, relaxing the pelvic muscles is the key to releasing stool: “Achieving complete relaxation is key.”
Relaxing the tight muscles around the rectum improves flexibility there, making bowel movements less painful if they become compacted.
The tools used for this are usually the ones used in the bedroom.
Dr. Goldstein said, “This is an area where practicing with anal dilators and toys can be extremely helpful for someone who isn’t interested in exploring anal sex.
‘[The toys] helping people better understand their pelvic floor and what it feels like when it relaxes.”
The tool you are looking for should be made of smooth, medical grade silicone and should be washed with warm water and mild soap and dried thoroughly after each use.
Up to 20 percent of Americans deal with constipation on a weekly basis, but are uncomfortable talking about creative ways to solve the problem beyond fiber supplements and stool softeners
He added: ‘That relaxation also encourages deep breathing. All of these factors together are why using toys and dilators can often trigger a bowel movement.
‘Anyone who suffers from constipation would do well to experiment with dilation and see if the extra attention to relaxation that this requires helps alleviate the problem.’
But for those who may be uncomfortable with the prospect of having something inserted into their rectum, Dr. Goldstein says certain oral remedies can help.
Stool softeners and milk of magnesia, which draw water into the incision to soften the stool, are often safe choices.
Constipation is defined as having bowel movements less than three times a week.
It usually occurs when a person does not consume enough fiber and water.
It can also be the result of problems with the pelvic floor muscles. When the pelvic muscles become weak over time from too much strained pushing, it becomes increasingly difficult for those muscles to contract and relax correctly to pass stool.
Women are twice as likely to have constipation than men, likely due to hormonal and anatomical differences. Women’s large intestines are on average 10 centimeters longer than men’s.
This requires food to travel longer through the digestive tract, absorbing more water from the waste, making it harder and harder to pass.
Fluctuations in the levels of the female hormone progesterone during a woman’s menstrual cycle also affect bowel movements.
An increased amount of it slows down the contractions in the intestines that move food.
This results in a longer time for the stool to remain in the colon, allowing more fluid from the stool to be reabsorbed into the body, resulting in a harder and more difficult stool.
Drinking enough water can help restore fluid to the colon to correct the problem and prevent it from happening again.
Hydration not only hydrates the colon and softens stool, it also keeps the smooth muscle in the colon healthy and maintains normal patterns of contraction and relaxation that move stool along.
The methods of dealing with constipation can be tried in combination with each other, but if nothing works, Dr. Goldstein recommends seeking out a doctor for more help.