Are girls more likely to get constipated and use enemas than men?

Did girls get more enemas?

An enema is about the most potentially embarrassing thing that can be done to you.

It is inserted into your bottom and fluid pumped into your rectum and intestines with the major purpose of making you move your bowels, and you do.

In my case the first enema I received was because I needed to go to the toilet and couldn't. I had not been for some days and I was uncomfortable and straining on the toilet when my Mother who was sick with a bad headache arrived wanting to use it and found me in there and distressed.

I was moved out while she used it and then taken into the adjacent bathroom and given an enema which resolved my problem but I had no idea at the time what I was given or what it was called or why, just that something cold was stuck into my bum and I could feel something being pumped into me which suddenly became very uncomfortable and after saying I would go now, it was removed and I went to the toilet, amazingly well. I don't remember seeing anything at the time but the action was remembered even if the vision was not. I knew that something was put into my bottom and I also knew that liquid was pumped into me as that was what came out with the stubborn motions on the toilet afterwards.

It was some time before I had any idea what the instrument looked like, that it was called an enema, that its sole use was to make you go to the toilet and that it did, very well.

In following years at home I learnt that others in the house had experienced an enema. It seemed obvious that they had been constipated and couldn't move their bowels either but they all proved to be females. My Mother, Sister, Sister in Law, Sister of a friend at school. I never encountered a male who had received the attention of the lubricated nozzle and subsequent relief.

I am not sure of the makeup on this site but would observe that the folk here have all been given enemas that subsequently had "sexual" connotations that have lingered with them for life rather than enemas strictly to resolve constipation that worked and were dismissed as no doubt many were.

Considerations ?

Girls got more constipated?

Girls get periods and constipation can be associated with this I know but girls eat the same as boys and exercise the same as boys so is there a tendency to get constipated more often?

Mothers worried about their daughters health more than their sons?

Back in those wonderfull days girls were perhaps considered more "Fragile" and probably watched over more closely than boys. Girls were going to have babies and maybe their health was more closely watched . Constipated ? and out came the enema. The girls would have children who needed to be looked after so they should be educated about enemas in order to be able administer them later as required.

Girls are more likely to take action on a health issue than boys.

I believe so. Men just put stuff off. Girls have to deal with all the issues of periods and are much more likely to look for quick solutions and for troublesome constipation nothing beats an enema for speed and results.

Sexual considerations?

The Anus is irrevocable tied to the Vagina in matters sexual. Do the girls actually enjoy the slow insertion of a well lubricated enema nozzle into their bottoms? ( I certainly do). Especially girls that have discovered the delights of sexual self relief and have already experienced the role the anus can play.

So what do we all think?

And how has this changed today?

Interestingly enough the "enemas" of old seem to be enjoying a comeback. You can buy Higginson syringes on Amazon and many other websites and thousands of "Fleet" devices are used daily. A warm salt water enema is way healthier and more comfortable than a chemical purgative fleet so is this being recognised by the sales of more original devices now?

Emma

Sometimes girls tend to get more than boys for enemas. Girls hormones when they have there period or hormones change as they get older or pregnant change a lot and plays a factor in constipation.

My brother, sister, an I all had constipation issues as kids and were given enemas to clean us out when needed. After being taught personal hygiene by our RN grandmother within six months we were giving enemas to each other after school. About 60 to 70 percent of the time, we used the bathroom for the enemas we gave each other. The other 30 to 40 percent of the time we used the bedroom. As the receiver of the enema was expelling on the toilet, the giver was right there, fixing the next enema for the receiver, or the rolls switched, and the receiver became the giver. An one thing was for sure, our sister liked giving her two brothers enemas, every bit as much, as her two brothers like giving her enemas.

My girlfriend had cramps and constipation issues during her period each month, as did my wife years late, an I gave both enemas during their periods as requested. They both even let me douche them if we took a shower together. My sister taught me one afternoon, when she was really feeling bad and needed both enemas an a douche. Her period had just ended, was having a bad day, an asked for my help. She then passed that information along to my girlfriend, an years later, to the girl I married when they shared an apartment.

I don't know if it still applies now, but certainly historically women have been under greater pressure to only "go" at certain specific times.

From the end of rationing after WWII no one really ate the fruits and vegetables they should have, leading to the "golden age of enemas"

In places where toilets are outside, and sometimes one may have to walk a significant distance to them, or are not even toilets, there is a risk for women to go defecating, especially at night. So it may be an incentive to wait. (Peeing is often solved using a chamber pot or similar.)

In addition there is typically a line at women's toilets, so it may discourage girls and women to go. Especially in schools, where you often lack time between clases.

It is well known that girls and women are far more constipated than boys and men. But in my observation it will depend of the country in which manner the relief will be realized. I see that in your country this will happen by taking enemas but especially in the countries with a Roman language this has been done traditionally by swallowing castor oil.

I know the caused of my, and my siblings, issues with constipation, an it wasn’t food. Before we started school, we had few constipation problems, however, once we started school, the constipation issues went up big time. We just didn’t like using the bathrooms at school to poop. We didn’t mind peeing in the bathrooms at school, but pooping was an entirely different matter, we would hold back until we got home to poop. Hence, the constipation issues going way up. Mom knew what was going on, because she had a conversation with our Pediatrician about the problem. He told her it was a common issue with kids, just give them an enema when needed, and they’ll grow out of it. Trouble was, we didn’t grow out of it, till we got out of High School. A lot of our friends were the same as we were, as are my niece two kids today.

Yes, constipation is common just before and during a woman's period. I think during the so-called golden years this is one of the reasons why it was not unusual for a woman to take laxatives or an enema during "her time of the month." Today, premenstrual constipation can be prevented or relieved in other ways, but the old fashioned enema is still effective.

I found this to be an interesting topic. I've always wondered why there are so many laxative products, that are advertised for women, i.e., probiotics, Metamucil, etc. Since both sexes have a digestive system, I would have thought that everyone has different levels of regularity, and that diet and health probably have more to do with it than anything else. Someone also suggested that women have higher rectal temperatures than men, in general. I've never seen any evidence of this, so I wouldn't know.

I find the topic interesting as well, because the threads seem to indicate that girls got the majority of enemas in families while growing up.

I have one younger sister (two years younger) and at our home I got the majority of enemas if not all. My sister (to my knowledge) never got an enema.

She did seem to be much more diligent about going to the bathroom than I was especially during our younger years. Probably due in some part from my example which wasn't a good one. I recall her hollering out proudly "I made a poopy" sometimes during the earlier time period of our lives and when I oftentimes didn't, and having some childish resentment about it while it was my time on the toilet.

Interesting question since I never remember my older sister getting enemas; but I sure did!

I really cannot answer this with any certainty. I am the only boy in a family of girls, and all haved died, save my older sister Lisa and me. Growing up, my mother, grandmother, and I lived in Grandma's house. My Aunt Ruth lived nextdoor. Mom and Ruth were widowed by WWII, leaving me as the only surviving male. My two oldest sisters were much older than Lisa and I. I know now that Grandma, Mom and Aunt Ruth would be considered klismaphiles. They gave each other enemas frequently, purportedly for constipation. We all had quarterly "colon health: weekends, when everyone got laxatives and enemas until we ran clear. My two older sister never got constipated, and threw fits if told they needed enemas. They rarely got them unless they were sick. Lisa and I, on the other hand, got constipated frequently, and after a while, were placed on a schedule of daily laxatives, suppositories if Mom thought our laxative hadn't done the job, and twice weekly enemas. We both came to enjoy the enemas, and started sneaking them with each other. So, do girls get constipated more often? Strictly going by the numbers, yes; but my sample is statistically worthless.

In our house the girls got as many enemas as everyone else with the exception of a sickly brother who got twice as many as everyone else. I think there is something to enemas helping during a period, I even gave my wife a few for cramps. I think a warm water bottle would probably do just as good a job but the enema was more fun for me anyway. I also think that moms were typically the one to administer so they may have made sure their daughters knew the process inside and out (pun intended). There are many many guys here because they got them from mom including me so I don't think there was any difference.

Girls may be more likely to admit it and take action than boys, but I'm not sure if numbers are that different. I'm sure some women have issues around menstrual homonal swings, but (anecdote alert) in my family the slow bowel genes have fallen on the guys pretty much exclusively.

I always thought enemas as more a woman's thing with enema bags being kept with the douche items found along the feminine hygiene isle of the all the pharmacies - which greatly added to my embarrassment (an rush of excitement) in searching for and buying enema bags..

Women are also more often affected by colorectal disorders and cancers, related to constipation.

There are several reasons behind this anomaly, only some of them related to gender.

First, all things being equal, women are exposed to more stress than men over family responsibilities, hormonal modulations, and societal pressures and expectations. Unfortunately, mental stress contributes to constipation just as bad as physiological factors.

Next reason are common concerns over hygiene, or embarrassment over the smell and noise while in the public bathroom, or inconvenience of using bathrooms outside of home. This factor often results in the conscious withholding of stools, that contributes to constipation.

Next, straining during natural pregnancies commonly causes the enlargement of internal hemorrhoids. In turn, enlarged hemorrhoids cause pain while moving the bowels, and may eventually lead to incomplete emptying and the ensuing chronic constipation.

Next, women happen to be expert strainers, because they are naturally skilled at using the abdominal and pelvic muscles to deliver babies. Unfortunately, even moderate straining contributes to chronic constipation.

Finally, women are more likely than men to lead a so-called "healthy lifestyle" and consume a presumably "healthy diet," which usually means a diet high in fiber, and low in fat.

All of the above conditions, factors, food choices, and circumstances predispose women to constipation and colorectal disorders at a much higher rate than men in a similar environment.

There is another aspect which hasn't been brought up so far:

Women have - in general - a slightly different, slower digestion. This is the reason why some medicines need to be dosed lower for women: The drug just remains longer in the colon and, thus, more can be absorbed. This slower digestion comes with constipation.

And this affinity combined with hormonal fluctuations can lead to increased constipation. One should consider that female hormones are changing constantly over the whole month, during the period the changes are even stronger, but they are always changing way more than in men.

Also, during some phases of pregnancy, some women have digestive problems like constipation, which also is due to these hormonal changes - combined with a higher affinity for constipation.

Rick6981: This is probably the reason why I was constipated not infrequently in elementary school and it stopped after that. That school had squat toilets and I think I used them only once in 5 years for pooping (I had diarrhea). I preferred holding in. The schools after that had normal, seated toilets.

Funny how some women report constipation during periods, for my wife it's the converse (tendency to have loose bowels).

II have one younger sister (two years younger) and at our home I got the majority of enemas if not all. My sister (to my knowledge) never got an enema.

Interesting question since I never remember my older sister getting enemas; but I sure did!

While I never thought of this is being matter of girls being constipated more often, for the record let me note that I have one sibling, a sister five years younger, who only one got one enema to the best of my memory, while I had at least dozens growing up. But in my case, I think it has something to do with my mother's upbringing that made her have something in it for male children, because I got corporal punishment a number of times, but I don't think my sister ever did, and also I turned 16 my mother made sure I had a job, while she my sister did not have to work till she was an adult, and when I asked my mother about that she said "It's different because she's a girl."

Are girls more likely to get constipated and use enemas than men? I think, Yes.

First - I think girls (women) are more prone to constipation. Some during their period, some during pregnancy, some when not eating right while trying to lose weight. I think we are more likely to avoid using the toilet in certain circumstances, like camping, when long lines at a stadium or concert, or port-a-pots. I know I have experienced all of the above.

Second - Girls are more likely to admit they have a problem and do something about it, whether laxatives or enemas. The guys just try to "tough it out."

Am I right?

There are some valid perspectives on this issue. I posted elsewhere about my perspective that girls/women seem to be in a better position, or state of mind, when it comes to the purchase of various personal hygiene or personal care items and equipment. A gal can buy the various rubber implements and supplies, whereas a guy believes he is more likely to be ridiculed in a retail outlet. Guys seldom admit to using enemas due to their macho delusions. Why else would one obtain these items if not for utilization?

While I think it may be a 50/50 proposition relative to constipation, females have traditionally been the ones who are most adept at resolving various maladies. Whether the resolution is quicker, or not, many guys are hesitant to insert anything into their bottoms. Gals may be far more adept at having items inserted in those private parts for any type of resolution.

I suspect that guys who do use enemas etc., get far more other pleasures than do gals, although the expected results are pretty darned similar.

I posted elsewhere about my perspective that girls/women seem to be in a better position, or state of mind, when it comes to the purchase of various personal hygiene or personal care items and equipment. A gal can buy the various rubber implements and supplies, whereas a guy believes he is more likely to be ridiculed in a retail outlet.

So true, when enema bags were readily available in pharmacies, my wife had no problem purchasing an enema bag; whereas it's was a big deal for me to do so.

Yes I believe women are more prone to constipation, only because I only hear women say they are suffering from it. However, enema users are rather rare. Most prefer laxatives, or prune juice, or fibre supplements. Enemas to them are reserved only for hospitals in the case of an impacted faeces.

But yes, I have heard all sorts of constipation accounts from women, one went on as long two weeks without going. The pain she said when she could pass that faeces was so excruciating she cried and screamed and tried desperately to pull it out. I am ashamed to say I got an erection hearing that.

There are several articles in the link below that state that females are more likely to be constipated than males. Therefore I would say yes.

https://www.ask.com/web?o=0&l=dir&qo=serpSearchTopBox&q=are+females+more+likely+to+be+constipated+more+than+males%3F

I think Emma makes a cogent and well reasoned argument- it certainly sounds like a plausible proposition, but we would need a lot more data.

Speaking for myself, and my own experience, although long past menopause, not only did I suffer from period cramps, but also constipation, of which a warm enema would offer some relief to both problems.

I also tend to support the suggestion that women are more health conscious and active than men, although over the last two decades, men’s health awareness has increased in leaps and bounds. However I would think that annual spend of females as compared to males is far greater on health products, supplements and health related treatments than that of men. Witness the plethora of products,publications and remedies specifically aimed at women. As in most commercial considerations, the potential size of the market predetermines R&D and product development.

I also support the suggestion that women are both carers and doers.

I would also suggest one other possibility. Because of their biology and physiology, women are more open to recognize, discuss, and act on health issues in the ‘no go’ below the belt issues. They are, so to speak, more open to these issues, and because of the nature of gynaecological routine examinations, and the realities of childbirth, they are far more used to, and tolerant of invasive procedures, whereas for most men, the insertion of digits or devices and instruments into their orifices is an absolute no-no, and not something they either frequently experience, or feel neutral about. I would therefore expect that women would be more used to such things, and do not regard it as being shameful in some way.

So, I would suspect that Emma’s hypothesis would be provable if empirically researched.

There is probably a PhD in this for someone!

Just my thoughts for what they are worth.

Delia

Delia well reasoned and thought out!

From my experience with my sister, girlfriend, wife, and daughter with constipation. I think Delia is correct, however, I do think constipation runs in some family’s. For example, my family has a number of members with constipation issues that I’ve not named here, both male and female. Most, if not all, have used enemas for constipation relief, with one exception, my brother. In later years, he got away from enemas and was using laxatives for constipation relief, when he blew his transverse colon out. It got repaired with two surgeries, wearing a bag on his left side in between the two, for ninety days. When all was said and done, his GI doctor told him, “no more laxatives, only enemas for constipation relief.”

This thread kind of goes along with the one on why do men like to give women enemas, as a constipated wife brings out the enema interest in me at least. However, my ex-wife was of the group who instead of getting constipated during her painful periods would often get violent diarrhea.

A woman friend of mine says yes. She bases this on her own experience plus her 3 sisters plus her girlfriends, all of whom are married or with boyfriends.

She said bowel movements are a common topic among the ladies. She actually said “we are all constipated” but I didn’t have the courage to ask if they did enemas or suppositories.

One woman I dated long ago admitted to me her mother had a special solution when she or her sisters were constipated as kids. She dipped a cotton swab in Vaseline and pushed it in and out of her anus. Never heard of that before or since.

One woman I dated long ago admitted to me her mother had a special solution when she or her sisters were constipated as kids. She dipped a cotton swab in Vaseline and pushed it in and out of her anus. Never heard of that before or since.

Kind of like the use of a finger coated with Vaseline being pushed in and out to encourage a bowel movement that I've heard of.