There are numerous medical benefits to using a bidet. For starters, bidets are tender and gentle on sensitive areas whereas toilet paper can be rough and irritating. Bidets also offer a more thorough and hygienic cleaning experience than toilet paper.  Some bidets offer features that help stimulate bowel movements for those with constipation. And if you have limited mobility that makes wiping difficult, a bidet can help you to use the bathroom on your own. Read on to find out all the ways a bidet can change your health for the better!

Medical Benefits of Bidets

Overcome Loss of Mobility

Over 70 million Americans suffer from joint inflammation or arthritis.  These conditions, together with surgery, broken bones, and aging, can limit mobility and make it hard to do tasks that used to be simple, like using the restroom. That’s where bidets can help!  

Bidets handle the work of getting you clean after bowel movements or urination so that you don’t have to worry about wiping.  This makes them a great asset for anyone wanting to increase bathroom independence without relying on a caregiver.  

Hemorrhoid Relief

Each year, approximately 12 percent of the United States population (about 2 million people) seek medical care for hemorrhoids.  What’s more, over 50% of Americans over the age of 45 will have hemorrhoids at some point in their life. So what is this pesky condition, how does it develop, and what does any of this have to do with bidets?

Hemorrhoids are varicose veins that swell in the rectum near and around the anus.  These varicose veins produce a variety of symptoms that can include itching, burning, swelling, and general irritation and pain. In addition to these symptoms, hemorrhoids are often accompanied by bleeding in and around the anal canal.

Hemorrhoids develop when excess blood flow leads to a build up of pressure in the lower rectum.  Common causes of this excess blood flow include long restroom visits, constipation, irritation to the rectum from toilet paper and pregnancy.

Eliminating constipation can help reduce the risk of hemorrhoids.  This can be done by increasing dietary fiber and by using a bidet with an enema feature.  The warm seat, nozzle oscillation and pulse washing that comes with many of our bidets can also help stimulate the bowels, further reducing hemorrhoid risk. What’s more, many electric bidets come with air dryers that let you to skip the toilet paper altogether, allowing tender tissue to heal.

Elminate Constipation

While a bidet seat’s main focus is cleaning, some seats on the market also offer a VERY effective enema function. The enema function directs a strong, thin wash stream into the anus to hydrate hard stool and stimulate the bowels, providing relief from constipation.

Relief from Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects the large intestine, and most often has one or more of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Mucus in the stool

Irritable bowel syndrome can often be managed and controlled with lifestyle changes, including diet and reducing stress, but rarely do symptoms go away completely.  While IBS does not cause permanent damage to the colon, it does result in frequent bathroom trips. The excessive toilet paper use that results can lead to skin rashes, irritation and sensitivity. Bidets replace toilet paper with a gentler, kinder water cleanse that makes IBS that much easier to live with.

Alleviate Symptoms of Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD.  While irritable bowel syndrome affects the large bowel, Crohn’s disease affects the small intestines and the very beginning of the colon or large intestines.  As Crohn’s disease develops, it causes inflammation in the walls of the small intestines. Symptoms can include:

• Rectal bleeding
• Persistent diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps or pain
• Urgent bowel movements
• Constipation

 Similar to other gastrointestinal conditions, Crohn’s causes frequent trips to the restroom and can lead to raw, painful skin. A bidet’s cleansing spray provides a comforting cleanse that’s much gentler than wiping with toilet paper. Special spray options like pulse wash or nozzle oscillation, as well as warm air drying, all make using the bathroom more bearable.

Bidet Benefits for Women

Menstruation & Yeast Infections

During menstruation, many women find that discharge can collect and dry on the skin, resulting in odor and itching. Bidets provide a gentle yet effective cleanse that leaves skin feeling soothed and refreshed, all while eliminating unwanted odors. For the same reasons, a bidet can make the process of getting over a yeast infection much more comfortable.

Help During Pregnancy

Pregnant women often develop hemorrhoids, which can be painful and uncomfortable. Wiping with toilet paper can exacerbate this sensitivity and irritation, whereas a bidet cleanse soothes tender tissue. Pregnancy also can make it harder to reach when wiping with toilet paper.  A bidet solves this problem by thoroughly removing waste at the press of a button.

Last but not least, an electric bidet’s gentle warm water stream can soothe the tenderness that often results after birth. Combine this with a warm air dry, and you’ll be able to get clean without pain or discomfort.

Final Thoughts

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]
• Or via WhatsApp and Marco Polo

Additional Resources

If you liked this article, you may be interested in:
Bidet Seats for Colorectal & Gastrointestinal Conditions
Bidet Seats for Adults with Physical Limitations
Bidet Seats for Bariatrics

Want to see videos on bidets? Check our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGFgiGtj6beO3RNHykoZafA