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Oct 15, 2024

How To Wipe Your Butt

You might be wiping your butt in a way that can lead to health issues. Jessica Migala has been a health, fitness, and nutrition writer for almost 15 years. She has contributed to more than 40 print

You might be wiping your butt in a way that can lead to health issues.

Jessica Migala has been a health, fitness, and nutrition writer for almost 15 years. She has contributed to more than 40 print and digital publications, including EatingWell, Real Simple, and Runner's World. Jessica had her first editing role at Prevention magazine and, later, Michigan Avenue magazine in Chicago. She currently lives in the suburbs with her husband, two young sons, and beagle. When not reporting, Jessica likes runs, bike rides, and glasses of wine (in moderation, of course). Find her @jlmigala or on LinkedIn.

Do you know how to wipe your butt? It's a surprising question, but doing it the wrong way has health implications. Failure to wipe correctly could leave you vulnerable to a urinary tract infection or aggravate any existing rectal issues, like hemorrhoids or anal fissures.

That's why Health turned to a gynecologist, a medical doctor specializing in the female reproductive tract. They get asked about wiping quite often.

Health also reached out to a gastroenterologist—a medical doctor specializing in the digestive tract—to give us the scoop on wiping after you poop. Here are the right and wrong ways to wipe, plus some helpful tips and tricks.

You've probably heard this directive since you were a kid, and it's really important. "This means wiping in the direction from your urethra to your anus," Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist in Westchester County, New York, and author of The Complete A to Z for Your V, told Health.

"There are far more bacteria in the rectal area; that's why you want to avoid dragging the toilet paper in the other direction toward your urethra. Bringing this bacteria up [towards the] front can contribute to a urinary tract infection," said Dr. Dweck. Wipe front to back whether you've urinated or had a bowel movement.

The best type is soft, white toilet paper that hasn't been dyed and isn't scented. Thin, scratchy toilet paper, scented toilet paper, and recycled TP can cause irritation or even an allergic reaction. Not everyone will have a reaction if they don't use the best toilet paper—"some people can use sandpaper to wipe themselves, and they'll be fine," said Dr. Dweck. But if you can help it, go with the right kind.

Don't worry about whether to sit or stand when you wipe. What you choose is a matter of preference and mobility, Monica S. Borkar, MD, a gastroenterologist with NorthShore University HealthSystem in Glenview, Illinois, told Health. Whatever position is most comfortable and gives you access is the right one.

After wadding up a ball of toilet paper (or neatly folding a few sheets), "reach either behind you or between your legs, if that's easier" to make the front-to-back wiping motion, said Dr. Borkar. Keep wiping until all the poop is gone and you feel clean. "Always take your time with these techniques; this is one of the most important things you can do for your health on a daily basis," Dr. Borkar said.

If you have hemorrhoids—swollen veins that may bulge out from the anus—you might feel you need to rub vigorously with toilet paper to get rid of all residue. "Hemorrhoids create folds and make it tough to clean the area," said Dr. Dweck.

So here's how to deal with that. Many people find that they have to poop in the morning—it's a natural reaction to getting up and having breakfast, and drinking coffee help move things along, too. In that case, you might be able to plan on pooping and then taking a shower before you get started with your day.

This routine is something that Dr. Borkar suggests to patients who have hemorrhoids. "External hemorrhoids often cause pain, itching, or bleeding, so showering with warm water after a BM is a good option," she said. Gently dry the area with a soft towel after your shower.

If hopping in the shower won't work, people with hemorrhoids still have options, Dr. Dweck said. These include:

Another anal-area problem that might make wiping your butt a challenge is an anal fissure. These are small tears in the lining of the anus, typically caused by hard stools from constipation, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Like hemorrhoids, symptoms of an anal fissure include itching, bleeding, and pain, said Dr. Borkar. If you have a fissure, Dr. Borkar recommended using a medicated pad or wipe after pooping.

Unless advised by your healthcare provider because you have hemorrhoids or a fissure, avoid wipes. You might like wipes for that fresh butt feeling, but they can cause their own problems.

"I see so many people who have irritation and rashes around the vulva and perianal area from using wipes," said Dr. Dweck. This area can be especially sensitive to ingredients like fragrances in scented products, Dr. Dweck said. If you are using wipes for a medical reason, choose unscented products made for sensitive skin, advised Dr. Borkar.

If you feel as if you just can't get clean after a BM, call your healthcare provider, said Dr. Borkar, especially if this is something new and lingering. (Also, if you ever see blood on the toilet paper after wiping, check in with your healthcare provider. You can't assume the cause is hemorrhoids until your healthcare provider has told you so.)

This stuff can feel embarrassing, but remember that your healthcare provider is there to help you, and they have heard it all before. Ultimately, wiping is a common concern. "If you're dealing with any issues wiping, you're not alone," said Dr. Dweck.

Wiping your butt is something most people do daily. While a simple, routine task, it has the potential to cause unpleasant problems if done incorrectly.

Following these tips will prevent most problems caused by improper wiping. However, if you experience new problems, see blood when you wipe your bottom, or have other concerns, give a healthcare provider a call.