An astonishing one in three Australian women (34 per cent) admit they will never ever use the toilets at work to go for a ‘number two’¹, according to a survey released today by the Continence Foundation of Australia (CFA) to coincide with Continence Awareness Week (1-7 August).
The survey also revealed a massive 78 per cent of women have at some point avoided going to the toilet at work for ‘number two’, with more than three quarters (76 per cent) reporting they had ‘held it in’ at work for up to three days.
Embarrassment was the main reason women were reluctant to go to the toilet, but half of women (48 per cent) said they refused to empty their bowels at work because they preferred the comfort of their own loo at home.
Alarmingly, the survey found that one in five (20 per cent) Australian women were concerned that holding it in could lead to bowel problems but were going to keep holding it in anyway.
“Australian women are risking serious bowel problems by holding it in at work” Colorectal surgeon, Mr Nick Rieger said.
“There’s no specific rule about how often you should go to the toilet, however anything from 1 – 3 times a day up to 3 times a week is considered ‘regular’. But it’s very important to go when you feel the urge, otherwise you may become constipated, bloated develop abdominal pain or haemorrhoids” Mr Rieger said.
“While toilet talk may be a health taboo it’s quite frightening to think more than a third of Australian women refuse to go to the toilet at work even though it’s a normal, everyday bodily function”.
“Healthy bowel habits can help you avoid bowel control problems, such as incontinence, which can have a major impact on your quality of life” Mr Rieger concluded.
During Continence Awareness Week, which starts on August 1, the Continence Foundation of Australia is urging people to seek medical advice if they notice problems like constipation, haemorrhoids or diarrhoea.
For more information call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 or visit www.continence.org.au
