How To Wipe Your Butt the Healthy Way

Do you know how to wipe your butt? It's a surprising question, but doing it the wrong way has health implications. Failure to wipe correctly could leave you vulnerable to a urinary tract infection or aggravate any existing rectal issues, like hemorrhoids or anal fissures.

That's why Health turned to a gynecologist, a medical doctor specializing in the female reproductive tract. They get asked about wiping quite often.

Health also reached out to a gastroenterologist—a medical doctor specializing in the digestive tract—to give us the scoop on wiping after you poop. Here are the right and wrong ways to wipe, plus some helpful tips and tricks.

Wipe Your Butt From Front To Back

You've probably heard this directive since you were a kid, and it's really important. "This means wiping in the direction from your urethra to your anus," Alyssa Dweck, MD, a gynecologist in Westchester County, New York, and author of The Complete A to Z for Your V, told Health.

"There are far more bacteria in the rectal area; that's why you want to avoid dragging the toilet paper in the other direction toward your urethra. Bringing this bacteria up [towards the] front can contribute to a urinary tract infection," said Dr. Dweck. Wipe front to back whether you've urinated or had a bowel movement.

Choose the Right Toilet Paper

The best type is soft, white toilet paper that hasn't been dyed and isn't scented. Thin, scratchy toilet paper, scented toilet paper, and recycled TP can cause irritation or even an allergic reaction. Not everyone will have a reaction if they don't use the best toilet paper—"some people can use sandpaper to wipe themselves, and they'll be fine," said Dr. Dweck. But if you can help it, go with the right kind.

Wipe Your Butt Standing—or Sitting

Don't worry about whether to sit or stand when you wipe. What you choose is a matter of preference and mobility, Monica S. Borkar, MD, a gastroenterologist with NorthShore University HealthSystem in Glenview, Illinois, told Health. Whatever position is most comfortable and gives you access is the right one.

Do the Reach Around

After wadding up a ball of toilet paper (or neatly folding a few sheets), "reach either behind you or between your legs, if that's easier" to make the front-to-back wiping motion, said Dr. Borkar. Keep wiping until all the poop is gone and you feel clean. "Always take your time with these techniques; this is one of the most important things you can do for your health on a daily basis," Dr. Borkar said.

Don't Scrub When You Wipe Your Butt

If you have hemorrhoids—swollen veins that may bulge out from the anus—you might feel you need to rub vigorously with toilet paper to get rid of all residue. "Hemorrhoids create folds and make it tough to clean the area," said Dr. Dweck.

So here's how to deal with that. Many people find that they have to poop in the morning—it's a natural reaction to getting up and having breakfast, and drinking coffee help move things along, too. In that case, you might be able to plan on pooping and then taking a shower before you get started with your day.

This routine is something that Dr. Borkar suggests to patients who have hemorrhoids. "External hemorrhoids often cause pain, itching, or bleeding, so showering with warm water after a BM is a good option," she said. Gently dry the area with a soft towel after your shower.

If hopping in the shower won't work, people with hemorrhoids still have options, Dr. Dweck said. These include:

• A bidet. If you have one available, it's a bathroom appliance that gently sprays water on you after you pee or poop.
• Peri bottles are also a useful tool. You can use one to squirt water on your anus, which moistens things up and makes it easier to wipe.
• A quick sitz bath (where you sit in a couple of inches of water) can also work, and they make versions that go over your toilet, which can be especially helpful for mobility issues.
• Balneol, a mild cleansing lotion, is another option. Apply a bit to the toilet paper and then wipe, moisturizing your anal area and whisking away any traces of stool.

Be Gentle Around Anal Fissures

Another anal-area problem that might make wiping your butt a challenge is an anal fissure. These are small tears in the lining of the anus, typically caused by hard stools from constipation, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Like hemorrhoids, symptoms of an anal fissure include itching, bleeding, and pain, said Dr. Borkar. If you have a fissure, Dr. Borkar recommended using a medicated pad or wipe after pooping.

Skip Store-bought Wipes

Unless advised by your healthcare provider because you have hemorrhoids or a fissure, avoid wipes. You might like wipes for that fresh butt feeling, but they can cause their own problems.

"I see so many people who have irritation and rashes around the vulva and perianal area from using wipes," said Dr. Dweck. This area can be especially sensitive to ingredients like fragrances in scented products, Dr. Dweck said. If you are using wipes for a medical reason, choose unscented products made for sensitive skin, advised Dr. Borkar.

Wiping Issues To Tell Your Healthcare Provider About

If you feel as if you just can't get clean after a BM, call your healthcare provider, said Dr. Borkar, especially if this is something new and lingering. (Also, if you ever see blood on the toilet paper after wiping, check in with your healthcare provider. You can't assume the cause is hemorrhoids until your healthcare provider has told you so.)

This stuff can feel embarrassing, but remember that your healthcare provider is there to help you, and they have heard it all before. Ultimately, wiping is a common concern. "If you're dealing with any issues wiping, you're not alone," said Dr. Dweck.

A Quick Review

Wiping your butt is something most people do daily. While a simple, routine task, it has the potential to cause unpleasant problems if done incorrectly.

Following these tips will prevent most problems caused by improper wiping. However, if you experience new problems, see blood when you wipe your bottom, or have other concerns, give a healthcare provider a call.