We’ve all been there, out and about when that morning latte kicks in. A mad dash ensues, the nearest public restroom is spotted, and just when the toilet seat is visualized and relief seems to be at hand, panic sets with the realization that the seat appears to be somewhat less than sanitary.
For many women the answer is to plant their feet as firmly as possible on the floor, wish they had done more thigh lunges, and attempt the toilet seat hover.
The problem? Hovering is the most unnatural position for relieving oneself. To empty the bladder (or the bowels) the muscles in the pelvic floor have to relax. However, to hover at the safe acceptable height (which is directly related to the squalor factor) the muscles of the pelvic floor must firmly contract. Not only does this interfere with complete emptying, but it can also cause the stream of urine to veer off to one side, sometimes missing the toilet bowel altogether.
Incomplete emptying once or twice, while unsatisfying, is probably not particularly harmful. However, repeated hovering may cause some women to develop abnormal activity in their pelvic floor muscles leading to voiding problems (even when appropriately seated) and pelvic pain. .
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The best position is actually a full squat. According to Stephanie Prendergast MST, a pelvic floor physical therapist at the Pelvic Health & Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco, squatting maximizes pelvic floor relaxation and promotes complete emptying. Squatting also positions the lower colon most effectively for elimination. In many countries toilets are actually designed for squatting instead of sitting.
So what’s a girl to do? Remember that you can’t catch anything from a toilet seat so sit down and do the job properly. Those paper covers? Use them to keep dry if you like, but remember, the dirtiest in the public restroom is not the toilet seat, it’s the door handle!
Remember, this column does not represent individual medical advice.
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