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ERIC / Constipation and Soiling / Info for Teens /

Info for Teens

Constipation and soiling are not uncommon in teenagers and very often soiling problems can be the result of constipation. It is estimated that 1 in a 100 teenagers have problems with constipation and for many teenagers there is no known reason why it happens.

How your bowels work

What is constipation?

Constipation happens when poo stays in the bowel too long and dries out. It becomes hard and is difficult to push out.

A teenager is considered to be constipated if they poo less than 3 times a week.

Everybody’s pooing pattern is different and some people will need to poo twice a day whilst others will go only every other day.

sams bowels

Soiling

Often when there is a hard constipated lump in the bowel, new softer poo can leak around it or a piece of hard poo can pop out; this is known as overflow, it is out of your control and you get no warning that it is happening. Sometimes, bits of poo can simply break off and escape without you knowing.

If you have been constipated a lot in the past, your bowel may have become stretched and you make very big poos, these are known as ‘mega poos’. You may have also lost some of the feeling in your bowel so you are not so aware that you need a poo. Both of these will be rectified over time when you take laxative medicine for as long as it is prescribed and have regular soft poos.

What can I do?

It is important to eat a well balanced diet and to drink plenty of water-based drinks. You need to keep the lower part of your bowel cleared out on a regular basis; this means ensuring that you empty you bowel daily or on alternate days. If you have ongoing problems with soiling or constipation you should visit your doctor to discuss the options available for treatment.

Download the Bristol Stool Form Chart to check out your poo's. The ideal is not a number 2, but a number 4! If you are a number 2 you are probably a little bit constipated.

Coping with constipation and soiling

Constipation and soiling can cause teenagers considerable stress and they don’t know why it is happening and are often unsure how to resolve the problem.

In 2009 100,000 children and teenagers in the UK were treated by their GPs for constipation and soiling problems. For most teenagers, constipation can be successfully resolved – a visit to your doctor for an assessment and medication will help clear the constipated lump and help things start to move smoothly.

Causes of constipation

Putting off going to the toilet
Lack of a toilet routine (some teenagers have such busy lives that it can be difficult to find time to sit and relax on the toilet each day)
A diet that is not fully balanced
Low fluid intake
A change in routine
Anxiety and emotional upset
Some medications may cause constipation
Illness

Establishing a routine

Sitting on the toilet everyday for a poo is really important and you need to ensure there is time in the day to have a relaxed sit on the toilet to empty your bowel.