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Expert Breaks Down How Often You Should Really Be Pooping Each Week

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Most people have thought about this at some point
Health experts have shared clear guidance on how often someone should be using the bathroom and what can actually be considered “normal” for bowel habits.When it comes to daily routines like going to the toilet, most people want reassurance that everything is working as it should and that their body is functioning in a healthy way.At the same time, the number of times you go during the week can reveal quite a bit about your overall health, digestion, and how your body is handling food and stress.

With that in mind, if your usual pattern suddenly changes and you start going much more often or far less than usual, Dr Marie Edison says it is important not to ignore it and to get medical advice.Speaking to Metro, the doctor, who works as head of medical policy at Vitality Health, explained: “The key thing to remember is that you don’t need to try and force your body into a schedule, but to pay attention to how it’s behaving over time.”

There are some issues where it would be best to speak to a doctorGetty Stock Image
“If you suddenly find yourself having much more frequent bowel movements, suffering from constipation, or experiencing symptoms like pain, bloating, or bloody or black stools you should speak to a doctor to ensure nothing more serious is going on.”A study published in 2024 by the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) also looked closely at this topic and found that how often someone has a bowel movement can play a big role in their general health and wellbeing.The research grouped people based on how frequently they went. Those who went only one to two times a week were placed in the constipation category. People going three to six times a week were considered in the low-normal range. The next group, described as normal-high, included those who went one to three times a day. Anything more frequent than that was classified as diarrhea.

Dr Delphine Sekri, a GP at St John & Elizabeth Hospital, also pointed out that irregular bowel movements can sometimes be a sign that something is not quite right in the body.They explained that going less than once every five days may raise concerns, and in many cases, constipation is the main reason behind it.Speaking to Metro, they added: “That can mean bloating, stomach aches and that uncomfortable ‘heavy’ feeling.'”

Spending too much time straining on the toilet is also not good for youStefa Nikolic/Getty Images
“It can also lead to piles (which usually show up as sore swelling around the back passage and can bleed) or anal fissures (small tears that can cause sharp pain when you go) In both cases, you might spot bright red blood when you wipe.”Even though people often compare their habits to others, what feels normal can vary quite a lot from person to person. There is no single routine that fits everyone.Australian gastroenterologist Professor Peter Katelaris has previously explained that there is no need to worry if you are not going every single day, as long as your pattern stays consistent for you.

He explained: “What is normal for one person may not be normal for another. In general, the majority of adults open their bowels between three times a day and three times a week.”

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