Let’s be real – we’ve all been there. You finish up your bathroom business and, for whatever reason, you find yourself wiping more times than you’d like to admit.
Maybe it’s three wipes, maybe it’s five – but one expert says if you’re wiping more than three times, something might be off.
In a TikTok video that’s taken the internet by storm, a pelvic floor physiotherapist from BIEN Australia breaks it down and offers some eye-opening advice for anyone struggling with excessive wiping.
Spoiler alert: It might not be as simple as just trying harder.
So, what’s going on?
Georgia Reupert-Allen is physiotherapist and expert in womens health and pelvic floor physiotherapy. And according to her, wiping more than three times is called faecal smearing, and it happens when there’s still leftover stool at the entrance of your bottom after using the bathroom
@bien.aus/TikTok
“Essentially, it occurs when too much faecal matter remains at the a*** entrance even after you have finished your bowel movement,” the physiotherapist explains.
The solution: try this technique
Before you throw your hands up in frustration, the good news is that there’s a simple trick that could reduce all that extra wiping. The expert suggests using a technique called “progressive pelvic floor muscle squeezing,” which sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is.
The goal is to progressively squeeze your pelvic floor muscles in a pattern similar to a waterfall. You start by squeezing at 20%, then 50%, 80%, and finally go for 100% by the end of your movement.
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Doing this four times can help to close off your anal sphincter, minimizing the chances of leftover stool hanging around. This technique works by addressing potential weakness in the external sphincter, which could be the culprit for all that extra wiping.
When should you seek help?
Now, if the technique doesn’t do the trick, don’t worry. The expert acknowledges that other issues, such as hemorrhoids or scar tissue, might be contributing to your wiping woes.
Ideally, you should be having a bowel movement anywhere from one to three times a day, or at least three times a week.
If you have any concerns about your health, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor.
What the TikTok comments are saying
Naturally, the TikTok comment section is filled with humorous takes on the whole situation. From joking about “hairy situations” to sharing experiences of bathroom struggles, it’s safe to say the video resonated with plenty of people.