We asked couples in Canada if they talk about poop

Dec 16 2019, 8:42 pm

We’re glad we’ve got your attention. Yes, this article is about poop (cue laughs and awkward smiles).

Using the bathroom is a natural thing ⁠— well, unless you’re an alien from another galaxy who doesn’t use the bathroom at all, in which case this article doesn’t apply. But the thing is, everyone has different experiences.

Your poop can be an indicator of your overall health and wellness, and the first step is actually paying attention to it. Diet and lifestyle have a big impact on your digestive flow, but sometimes, shit doesn’t happen — even if you’re getting enough exercise, drinking a lot of water, and eating well.

Constipation is no one’s friend. Spoiler alert: it happens to everyone at some point in time. A recent Senokot study found that 42% of the general population do not associate bloating with constipation, 21% feel embarrassed buying laxatives, and wait for it
. 14% do not know there is a treatment for constipation. Really, guys?

Ending the poo taboo

Toilet paper/Shutterstock

It’s time to start spreading poo-sitivity (yes, we went there) and championing digestive health and wellness. The best way to do this? Talk openly about your poo-haviours with your friends and partner.

This shouldn’t be too difficult because Senokot‘s study found that 92% of Canadians agree on the importance of a good poop — so the majority of us have the same poo-spective (sorry).

But whether people actually feel comfortable talking about their poop is another matter. Curious to discover the answers, we set out on the town to ask couples how they feel about discussing their number two with their number one.

A little toilet talk

Audio recorder/Shutterstock

During our peculiar quest, one thing became very clear, which may or may not surprise you: everyone talks about poo differently.

A doctor, Sarah C. told us that she never hesitates to broach the subject with her partner, explaining that her profession naturally allows her to be more open than others. “I’m a doctor so I’m more open about that stuff than normal people I guess.”

It’s easy to make light of a poop conversation, and Bash A. said he talks about it with his partner all the time. “We have some food and then we talk about poop like ‘oh it’s solid-liquid, this one looks like a cow’s poop, this one actually swirled.'” He reaffirmed that these conversations are good for monitoring your health.

The reality is that not everyone speaks openly about poop in their relationship. Ryan G. said it’s not something he discusses. When he and his girlfriend first started dating, they had a long-running joke with her friends that she would go out of her way to use the lobby bathroom because she was afraid to poop in a small vicinity.

The scoop on poop

Couple laughing/Shutterstock

Discussing your digestive health with your partner is a sign that you’re truly comfortable with one another, and the dialogue can really be whatever you want it to be — code words or straight-up.

Senokot’s study revealed that just under a third (30%) of Canadians — of all ages — are too embarrassed to openly discuss the regularity of their poop. In fact, 45% said they would rather run errands or do chores than discuss their number two.

Moreover, 16% of Canadians would rather talk about menstruation than their poop, and 22% would rather go to the dentist than have this conversation — seriously. Nobody likes going to the dentist that much, so this is a real concern.

Life is too short to keep everything to yourself, so it’s time to break the poo taboo. Be the person who starts the conversation everyone can relate to — celebrate the #2 in you.

Find out more about digestive health and the full range of Senokot products out there at Senokot.ca.

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