As a healthcare professional with a background in gastroenterology, I can provide you with an informed response to your question about the potential consequences of intentionally withholding bowel movements.

**Holding in your poop, or feces, can lead to several health issues:**


1. Constipation: One of the most immediate effects is constipation, which is characterized by infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stool.

2. Hemorrhoids: Straining to pass hard stools can cause hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in the rectum or anus.

3. Anal fissures: Forceful bowel movements can also lead to anal fissures, which are small tears in the lining of the anus.

4. Fecal impaction: In severe cases, feces can become impacted, meaning it's stuck in the rectum and cannot be passed naturally.

5. Toxins reabsorption: The body may reabsorb toxins present in the feces, which can lead to symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, and potentially more serious health issues over time.

6. Weakened bowel muscles: Over time, the muscles of the intestines can weaken if they are not used regularly to move stool through the digestive tract.

It's important to maintain a regular bowel routine and to not ignore the body's natural signals to have a bowel movement. If you find yourself frequently needing to hold in your poop due to lifestyle constraints, it may be worth discussing with a healthcare provider to find strategies to manage this better.

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Keeping in your bowel movement can lead to unnecessary constipation, Chen says, because the longer you hold the stool in your colon, the more water is absorbed and the harder it becomes. Those factors could potentially cause colon damage due to the effort and strain of expelling it later on.read more >>