Toilet Time and Pelvic Health: What You Need to Know
For those who spend a long time sitting on the toilet with their phone—scrolling endlessly, working, or even writing—this habit may not be as harmless as it seems. Prolonged sitting on a toilet seat places continuous pressure on the pelvic area and surrounding nerve structures.
This pressure can compress the pudendal nerve and other pelvic nerves, reducing blood flow and irritating the tissues that supply the perineum, anal region, and genitals. Hard toilet seats can make this worse, especially when sitting extends far beyond the time actually needed.
Over time, this may lead to numbness, burning sensations, tingling, pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, straining during bowel movements, hemorrhoids, and even sexual problems. Being distracted by a phone often causes people to sit much longer than necessary.
Traditionally, many cultures used a squatting position, which naturally aligns the anorectal angle, reduces straining, and properly engages the core and pelvic floor muscles. Prolonged seated toileting is a relatively modern habit.
The toilet is designed for elimination, not occupation. Finish your business and stand up. Your pelvic nerves, circulation, and pelvic floor are not built for prolonged compression.
