It is common to think that you should have a bowel movement every day, but the truth is that the “normal” range is actually quite broad, according to one doctor
Bowel habits are as unique as the people who have them and it can be tricky to determine how often you should actually be heading to the loo for a number two.
But don’t worry, because Dr Jen Caudle has taken to her TikTok channel to clear up any confusion. She reassures us by saying: “A lot of people tend to think that if they don’t have a bowel movement every single day there’s something wrong with them.”
Many of her patients worry, telling her: “Oh I don’t have a bowel movement every day, what’s wrong with me?” But she clarifies that there’s a broad spectrum of normalcy when it comes to this matter. You don’t need to hit the bathroom for this reason daily, and according to Dr Caudle, it’s perfectly fine.
She outlines that a “normal range” is having a poo anywhere from three times a day to about three times per week. She said: “Now, some doctors consider constipation to be if you have bowel movements less than three times a week.
“Some doctors consider constipation to be three or fewer bowel movements a week.” So, there’s a variety in medical opinions regarding the frequency of bowel movements required to be considered normal, reports the Express.
Dr Caudle emphasizes not to worry if you’re not visiting the toilet every day, as it doesn’t mean you’re failing to ‘clean out’ your system. However, she does note that it’s crucial to understand what your personal “normal” is and to recognise what that looks like for you.
She emphasised the importance of monitoring one’s health, stating: “I should also say that any change in your bowel habits that’s not typical for you, you need to talk to your doctor about.”