Best toilet position for hemorrhoids: correct posture and tips

Nearly one in two adults has suffered from hemorrhoids at least once in their life. The best toilet position for hemorrhoids is a mechanical adjustment that is often underestimated for reducing pelvic pressure. This adjustment facilitates every trip to the toilet without generating additional pain.

Best position for bowel movements and relieving hemorrhoids

The classic 90-degree sitting position keeps the puborectalis muscle under tension. This contraction partially kinks the anal canal, which makes passing stools more difficult. One then ends up straining, which puts pressure on the hemorrhoidal veins.

To remedy this, the optimal toilet position consists of elevating your feet. You thereby immediately release the anorectal tension.

Sitting or squatting position?

The original posture of the human body for defecating remains squatting. This is still observed with squat toilets, where the colon aligns naturally with the rectum. A suitable stool reproduces this axis without any construction work: you simply need to squat virtually by raising your feet.

• Strict sitting position: the puborectalis muscle remains in tension, curving the anal canal. This physical brake forces you to strain during defecation.
• Squatting position: straightening releases the colon and lowers intra-abdominal pressure. Evacuation occurs more easily.
• Published research: the squatting posture is the subject of gastroenterology publications, which describe a shortened bowel movement duration and a reduced need to strain.
• User feedback: many report significantly reduced hemorrhoidal discomfort after a few weeks of regular use of the stool.

The ideal position is dictated by our digestive anatomy, not by the design of the bathroom fixture. The right posture requires total relaxation, possible only with the knees raised above the hip axis.

The physiological stool in practice

A specific footstool compensates for the inadequate height of our Western toilets and lowers the strain on the pelvic floor. The squatting position on the toilet thus obtained opens the anorectal angle by about 35°.

The choice of height determines the effectiveness of the movement. Verify that the elevation is consistent with your size: our physiological stool adjusts from 12 to 20 cm to suit every body type.

Breathing and good bathroom habits

A good position on the toilet loses its value if you hold your breath during the effort: this reflex suddenly increases pressure on the perineal area. A physiological support is ideally accompanied by a slow and continuous exhalation, in order to avoid straining.

Three habits often recur among people prone to repeated discomfort:

• Prolonged waiting: staying on the seat for a long time stretches the supporting tissues and encourages blood stasis.
• Empty straining: going to the toilet in anticipation exposes you to unnecessary muscular effort.
• Irregular schedules: stabilizing the time of your bathroom trip helps to regulate transit and reduces the impact of constipation.

These principles apply immediately, without any special equipment. The guidance from the French national health insurance on how to handle hemorrhoids points in the same direction: limit the duration of contact and treat the area gently.

Constipation, transit, and prevention

Stagnation of stool is the main trigger for rectal disorders. Facilitating transit with a physiological stool avoids damaging effort. We prefer an adjustable physiological stool to ensure a posture suited to every body type.

These adjustments also require continuous hydration to soften the stool. Finally, the best toilet position is combined with cleaning with water, which limits friction from paper. It is this combination that lays the foundation for lasting prevention.

Frequently asked questions