​Constipation, IBS more common in females, finds "the largest study" on bowel habits​

The researchers found that more than 92% of the total participants poop within the normal range which is between 3 times a day to 3 times a week. The study found that those in the age group 18-32 years old pooped the most often which is 1.72 times a day.

The researchers found that most of us, more than 60% of the total people who participated in the survey, poop after breakfast and close to 33% poop after waking up. "Some of this might be due to your morning cup of coffee or breakfast stimulating the gastrocolic reflex to get things moving," the researchers have said. 17% of the participants, most of which are females, poop at random times.

The study found that 21% of the participants, mostly females reported having constipation. They also found a similar pattern in the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome- about 1 in 6 people have IBS. There can be several reasons behind this: Females have longer bowel transit times, which is the time it takes food to move through your bowel; female sex hormones – for example, progesterone – can slow bowel motility and constipation is more common after menopause.

Though the study is based on participants from the UK, it is relevant worldwide. It brings to light the most ignored gut-related problems like constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. These are considered to be mild in nature and the symptoms come and go away. These chronic conditions need to be managed for the long term and leaving them untreated can lead to irreversible damage to the gut lining.

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The common symptoms of gut issues, which do not seem mild, initially are: abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation, bloating, gassiness and cramping. These signs may be intermittent in nature. But do not ignore them if they happen repeatedly. Other uncommon signs are mucus in bowel movement, the urge of going to the washroom again and again and having a distended abdomen.