During the now-infamous Great Toilet Paper Shortage, thousands of Americans discovered what their international counterparts had known for centuries: Bidets are a huge improvement over wiping! And while more people than ever are aware of the advantages of bidets for the environment – and their own wallets – some of the benefits of a bidet toilet seat for your health might not be quite as obvious.

In addition to delivering a superior, shower-fresh clean, bidets are a boon if you’re dealing with medical challenges that make going to the bathroom difficult or painful. They also enhance quality of life and independence if you or a loved one have physical limitations or mobility concerns. From elevated comfort and hygiene to improved accessibility, adding a bidet to your bathroom routine can optimize your health and well-being in ways that might surprise you. In fact, once you know how to use a bidet like a pro, you’ll probably wonder how you lived without one!

Read on to discover bidet benefits that can change your health for the better!

1. Supercharge Your Hygiene

A bidet upgrades your cleanliness in more ways than one. First and foremost, a water wash just leaves you feeling cleaner than wiping with toilet paper! You can only wipe what you can reach, and no matter how much you wipe, it’s tough to avoid leaving some residue behind. A bidet’s spray gets into every nook and cranny to make sure nothing is missed, and you can easily adjust the water pressure and nozzle position to thoroughly cleanse a broad area. According to Cleveland Clinic gastroenterologist Christine Lee, MD, well-maintained bidets “deliver superior hygiene care.”

Using a bidet also provides a hygienic, hands-off experience that can reduce germ exposure and spread (but do make sure you wash your hands anyway!). A study of nursing students in Japan asked participants to wear gloves while cleaning up after a bowel movement. Some used a bidet to wash off while others wiped with toilet paper. Researchers compared the number of microbes on the gloves and found that the wipers had up to 10 times more bacteria left behind! Trading in your toilet paper for a bidet can boost hygiene in your bathroom and beyond. 

2. Soothe Colon Cancer Symptoms

Bidets can provide much-needed relief if you’re facing down colon cancer. Side effects of colon cancer and its treatment include diarrhea, constipation and incontinence. A bidet’s comforting cleanse is gentler than wiping and more effective at cleaning up after messy bowel movements. Plus, spray options like soft wash, pulse massage and nozzle oscillation relax tight muscles and stimulate the bowels to make it easier to go. In fact, Fight Colorectal Cancer, a US-based advocacy organization, recommends bidets to improve patients’ quality of life.

Another common side effect of colorectal cancer treatment is neuropathy, which can cause extreme cold intolerance. When choosing a bidet for colon cancer relief, features like heated seats and warm air dryers can provide additional comfort and cut down on skin irritation from wiping or patting dry. And if your treatment plan includes surgery, bidets with wireless remotes make it easy to control the bidet functions without bending or twisting.

3. Alleviate Constipation

In the United States alone, constipation results in more than 2.5 million doctor’s office visits each year. Constipation and/or difficulty moving the bowels often accompany aging, certain health conditions or medications and the loss of physical sensation or mobility. But can a bidet help with constipation? Absolutely! Many electric bidet seats come with features specifically designed to make completing bowel movements easier and more comfortable.

Some bidets for constipation feature a special enema wash, but its strong water stream may be uncomfortable if you have sensitive skin or hemorrhoids. A pulse or massage wash offers a gentler alternative, alternating the pressure of the water stream to soothe tender areas while encouraging bowel movements. And if you’re looking for a happy medium between an enema and pulse wash, you can always run a rear wash using the highest water pressure setting to stimulate the bowels.

4. Heal Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids often go hand-in-hand with gastrointestinal conditions like constipation and diarrhea. Each year, approximately 12 percent of the United States population (about two million people) seek medical care for hemorrhoids. What’s more, over half of Americans older than 45 will have hemorrhoids at some point in their lives. Hemorrhoids result from an increase in rectal pressure, which can be caused or aggravated by straining to go and sitting on the toilet for long periods. Wiping causes additional irritation and may even lead to bleeding.

So how does a bidet help with hemorrhoids? In addition to their constipation-relieving features, bidets take wiping out of the equation, giving inflamed tissue the chance to heal. The customizable water wash also facilitates thorough cleansing, which is key in reducing itching and discomfort and preventing infection. Even more impressive? In one study, using a warm bidet spray on a low-to-medium pressure setting proved just as effective as sitz baths – a commonly prescribed treatment for hemorrhoids – in reducing anorectal pressure. Another found that warm water bidets also perform as well as sitz baths in wound healing after hemorrhoidectomy – while being overwhelmingly described by participants as more convenient and satisfying.

5. Get a No-Mess Enema

While a bidet seat’s main focus is cleaning, some seats on the market also offer a VERY effective enema wash. Using a bidet as an enema provides relief from constipation, but this function can also help with fecal incontinence or aid in bowel prep for medical tests or procedures.

The enema wash works by directing a strong, thin wash stream into the rectum to hydrate hard stool and stimulate the bowels. Bidet enema washes are much more discreet and comfortable than traditional methods, since there are no kits to buy and nothing to place inside your anus. They’re also ideal if you have physical limitations or mobility concerns, since there’s no need to lie on the floor or contort your body to insert a nozzle. The best part? You won’t have to fuss with any messy oils or special solutions – and you’re already right where you need to be for easy cleanup.

6. Conquer Accessibility Challenges

Aging, physical disability and neurologic conditions are often accompanied by bathroom-related challenges. These can include issues with bowel movements, incontinence, difficulty wiping and the loss of dignity and autonomy. Because bidets do all the work of getting you clean (and dry, if they have a warm air dryer) after urination, bowel movements or accidents, they’re a huge help if you have limited mobility, dexterity or muscle control.

Bidets have several special features that help in overcoming mobility challenges. Wireless remote controls put all the bidet functions at your fingertips and can be wall-mounted at your preferred height for effortless operation. Some remotes are designed with large, easy-to-read buttons that can be operated with body parts other than hands. Others use a radio frequency signal that lets you operate the bidet from outside the bathroom to maintain privacy if you have a loved one who needs a little extra help. And still others include user presets, so you can select your preferred settings with just a couple of button presses. Additional accessibility-boosting features include sittable lids, which provide a stable seat for getting dressed or clipping toenails, automatic-open lids and even automatic flushing!

7. Ease Surgery Recovery

Surgical procedures can cause lots of anxiety, but using the bathroom afterward doesn’t have to add to the stress! Whether it’s struggles with bending and twisting after spinal or abdominal surgery, challenges with reaching or dexterity from procedures on your shoulder, arm or hand or difficulty supporting or shifting your weight following knee or hip surgery, most recoveries include a temporary decrease in mobility. Since bidets reduce the amount of physical movement and manual manipulation required to clean up in the bathroom, they can significantly decrease soreness and ease the healing process. Plus, you can maintain your privacy and independence since you won’t have to rely on a helper in the bathroom.

And remember the hygiene-boosting and constipation-relieving powers of bidets from earlier? They’re also relevant post-surgery. Keeping incision sites clean is critical for a healthy recovery, and a bidet’s hands-free cleanup means there’s less risk of spreading bacteria. On the constipation front, both anesthesia and pain medications can slow down your bowels, and straining can lead to pain and pressure at surgical sites. A bidet’s warm water flow and pulse or enema washes relieve discomfort and make it easier to go. Overall, bidets offer a great way to ease your healing journey!

Ready to Transform Your Health?

If you have questions about how a bidet can benefit your health or need assistance finding the right model for your needs, our team of bidet experts is happy to help. No question is too silly, too embarrassing or too small! Here are a few easy ways to get in touch:

• Live Chat on our website
• Phone: 248-974-4030
• Email: [email protected]

Special Note on Bidets for Medical Conditions

Some customers with medical concerns are able to have their bidet seat purchase covered by insurance. To get started, call us at 248-974-4030 or chat with us. We’ll help you find the right bidet seat for your needs and walk you through next steps. While we can’t guarantee coverage or speak with your providers on your behalf, we can make sure you have all the information you need to reach out to your doctor and insurance company.