It is perhaps one of the most common health problems we all face; for some, weekly.
One in five experience constipation regularly, studies show.
And while pharmacy shelves are filled with remedies that claim to offer a quick fix – from probiotic pills to slow-acting laxatives – one top doctor says there is one foolproof 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 encourages millions of Americans to try something new: toys.
Specifically, he recommends tools designed for the pleasure of stretching the rectum.
According to Dr. Goldstein, an anal surgeon practicing in New York whose new book Butt Seriously explores everything related to anal health, the key is to relax the pelvic muscles to allow stool to be released: “Achieving complete relaxation is the key.” clue”.
Relaxing tight muscles around the rectum improves flexibility there, making bowel movements less painful when compacted.
The tools used to do this are usually those used in the bedroom.
Dr Goldstein said: “This is an area where practicing with dilators and anal toys can be extremely helpful for someone who is not interested in exploring anal sex.
“(The toys) help people better understand their pelvic floor and how it feels when it relaxes.”
The tools to look for should be made of soft medical grade silicone and should be washed with warm water and mild soap and dried well after each use.
Up to 20 percent of Americans suffer from constipation weekly, but are uncomfortable talking about creative ways to resolve it that go beyond fiber supplements and stool softeners.
And he added: ‘That relaxation also encourages deep breathing. All of these factors together are why using toys and dilators frequently can cause a bowel movement.
“Anyone who has problems with constipation would do well to experiment with dilation and see if the extra attention that relaxation requires helps alleviate the problem.”
But for those who may feel uncomfortable at the prospect of inserting something into the rectum, Dr. Goldstein says certain oral remedies can help.
Stool softeners and milk of magnesia, which introduces water into the cut to soften the stool, are usually safe bets.
Constipation is defined as defecating less than three times a week.
It usually occurs when a person eats too little fiber and water.
It can also be caused by problems with the pelvic floor muscles. When the pelvic muscles weaken over time due to excessive pushing, it progressively becomes more difficult for those muscles to contract and relax properly to defecate.
Women are twice as likely to suffer from constipation as men, probably due to hormonal and anatomical differences. It is estimated that the colon of women is, on average, 10 centimeters longer than that of men.
Because of this, food must travel longer through the digestive tract and more water must be reabsorbed from waste, making its passage harder and more difficult.
Fluctuations in levels of the female hormone progesterone throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle also affect bowel movements.
A larger amount slows down the contractions in the intestines that move food.
This results in a longer amount of time that stool remains in the colon, allowing the body to reabsorb more moisture from the stool, resulting in harder, more difficult-to-pass stool.
Drinking enough water can restore moisture to the colon to remedy the problem and prevent it from happening again.
Hydration not only hydrates the colon and softens stool, it also keeps colonic smooth muscle healthy and maintains the normal patterns of contraction and relaxation that move stool forward.
Methods for treating constipation can be tried in combination with each other, but if nothing works, Dr. Goldstein recommends seeking further help from a doctor.
