Taking a dump isn’t just a biological necessity—it’s one of life’s greatest small joys. Sure, it clears waste and frees up real estate in your gut, but one of the best parts about pooping is that it feels downright amazing.
There’s a reason why that glorious post-dump euphoria hits different. Gastroenterologist Anish Sheth even gave it a name: poo-phoria (which, yes, is a real thing—you can read all about it in his book What’s Your Poo Telling You?).
See, while your anus may be the least glamorous of bodily crevices, it’s packed with nerve endings—making a good dump feel suspiciously close to, well, other types of pleasure. So if you’ve ever found yourself sitting on the toilet, staring at the ceiling, and thinking, Why does this feel so damn good?—congrats, you’re not weird. You’re just built for it.
Now, let’s break down three reasons why pooping is basically nature’s stress relief (and why, sometimes, it straight-up sucks).
Why Does Pooping Feel Good?
Doctors haven’t dedicated a ton of research to the art of dropping a deuce, butt we don’t need a PhD to confirm that it feels phenomenal. That said, a few theories explain why taking a dump can be close to a religious experience.
1. Pooping Stimulates Your Vagus Nerve
Dropping a log isn’t just about evacuating waste—it’s a full-body event. Your colon and rectal muscles tense up, do their job, and then relax, triggering a cascade of sensations in two major nerves below the belt.
First up: the vagus nerve, a powerhouse that runs from your brainstem to your colon, regulating everything from heart rate to vomiting to pooping. A big, satisfying deuce can give your vagus nerve a little thrill, sending relaxation signals throughout your body and even lowering your blood pressure. This is why a really good dump might leave you feeling lightheaded, tingly, or like you just had a spiritual awakening.
However, too much of a good thing can backfire—overstimulating the vagus nerve can trigger “defecation syncope,” which is the scientific way of saying passing out on the toilet. This is usually the result of pushing too hard while constipated. Moral of the story: if you ever feel like Elvis on the throne, chill out.
Then there’s the pudendal nerve, which runs through your perineum (AKA your gooch) and controls everything from your anal sphincter to sensations in the penis. Since it’s basically a direct line to your brain’s pleasure center, it’s no wonder a solid dump can feel like a borderline guilty pleasure.
2. Pooping Relieves Abdominal Pain
Ever felt like you were about to explode after crushing a burrito? That’s your colon expanding like an overfilled balloon while your sphincters clench to keep the floodgates shut.
When you finally let it all out, your stretch receptors and your gut muscles relax at the same time, releasing that built-up tension. The sensation is weirdly similar to post-massage bliss—except instead of a Swedish masseuse, it’s your own digestive system doing the work.
Bonus: this also explains why ripping a good fart is so damn satisfying.
3. Pooping Can Stimulate Your Prostate
For those who aren’t well-versed in the ways of their own anatomy, the prostate is a walnut-sized gland chilling between the bladder and penis. Its main job is to produce the fluid that keeps sperm swimming, but it’s also loaded with nerve endings—hence why it’s earned the nickname “P-spot.”
Since the prostate is located right in front of the rectum, a hefty turd can give it a little extra stimulation, which some dudes find pleasantly surprising.
Of course, if you’re interested in something a little more intentional, there are actual prostate massages for that. Those can lead to the legendary pro-gasm, which is supposedly even stronger than a regular orgasm. But that’s a conversation for another day.
Why Does Pooping at Home Feel Better?
There’s something extra satisfying about pooping in the comfort of your own home. No awkward foot shuffling in a public stall, no worrying about whether the office bathroom has single-ply sandpaper—just you, your throne, and total digestive freedom.
A big part of this home-turf advantage comes down to comfort and control. Your body thrives on routine, and when you’re in a familiar environment, your brain signals that it’s safe to fully relax.
Public restrooms, on the other hand, come with distractions—other people, weird noises, the stress of trying to time your flushes to mask the damage. All of that makes it harder for your muscles (and your mind) to let go.
What If Pooping Hurts?
Bowel movements aren’t always as euphoric as we’d like them to be. In fact, they can be painful sometimes. Here are a few potential reasons why it hurts to poop:
- Spicy Food: Hot foods are notorious for causing burning poops.
- Hemorrhoids: These are chronically swollen blood vessels that get irritated when you poop or wipe your butt.
- Constipation: Holding in your poop for too long can turn your stool hard, dry, and chunky, causing pain when you try to push it out.
- Gastrointestinal conditions: Problems that affect the digestive tract, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis, can all lead to discomfort during bowel movements.
- Anal fissures: These tiny tears feel like a papercut on your butt hole and can hurt when you pass poop.
- A chapped rear: Wiping with dry toilet paper can cause the dreaded polished anus syndrome, symptoms of which include an itchy or potentially bloody b-hole.
If you can’t get your bowel movements to stop hurting, reach out to your doctor for medical advice.
Don’t Ruin Your Poo-Phoria with Toilet Paper
Pooping is a sacred ritual, and a pleasurable one too as we’ve learned. Unfortunately, many poor souls unnecessarily punish themselves by scraping their sensitive undercarriage with glorified sandpaper—AKA toilet paper.
Do your ass a favor and switch to DUDE Wipes to elevate your bowel movements from good to great.
