Why Does It Take Me So Long to Poop?

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You sit down to poop.

Ten minutes later, you are still there.

If that keeps happening, the useful question is not simply “Am I constipated?” It is what is taking so long?

⚡ Quick Answer

Pooping can take a long time because you sat down before the urge was strong, the stool is hard, you are straining against muscles that are not relaxing properly, pain is making you tense up, or you finished pooping but stayed on the toilet.

This article is about the mechanics and timing of a slow bowel movement—not constipation in general.

🚽 First: What Part Is Actually Taking So Long?

“It takes me 20 minutes to poop” can mean several very different things.

• You sit down and nothing happens for a long time.
• The poop is hard and takes a lot of pushing.
• You feel stool there, but it will not come out easily.
• You poop, then keep feeling like there is more.
• You finished five minutes ago but are still scrolling on your phone.

Those situations do not all have the same cause.

⏰ You May Be Sitting Down Too Early

Sometimes the simplest explanation is that your body was not ready.

A convenient time to poop is not always the same thing as a strong natural urge. If you sit down without much urge and wait for something to happen, the toilet can turn into a waiting room.

If nothing is happening and you are forcing it, getting up and trying again later may make more sense than staying planted there.

🪨 Hard Stool Can Turn Pooping Into a Project

If most of the time is spent pushing against hard, dry or lumpy stool, constipation is probably part of the picture.

That topic is broader than this article, so see Why Am I Constipated? Common Causes and What to Do and Why Is My Poop Hard? for the full explanation.

🚪 The Stool May Be There, but the Muscles Are Not Cooperating

Pooping requires coordination.

Your rectum pushes while the muscles around the outlet relax. If those muscles tighten instead of relaxing, you may feel as if the stool is right there but refuses to leave.

Possible clues include soft stool that is still difficult to pass, repeated straining, a blocked feeling or needing a long time even when the stool is not especially hard.

That pattern can occur with pelvic-floor dysfunction and is worth discussing with a healthcare professional if it happens regularly.

😬 Pain Can Make You Clamp Down

Hemorrhoids, anal fissures and irritated skin can make bowel movements painful.

When pooping hurts, your body may tense up or you may hesitate to push. That can make the process take longer and can create a cycle of delaying, harder stool and more discomfort.

📱 Your Phone May Be Making the Visit Look Longer Than It Is

There is a difference between a bowel movement that takes 20 minutes and a bowel movement that takes five minutes followed by 15 minutes of scrolling.

If you are not sure which one is happening, leave your phone outside the bathroom once or twice. You may discover your colon is faster than you thought.

For the risks of simply remaining seated too long, see Is It Bad to Sit on the Toilet Too Long?

🦶 Can Position Make Pooping Easier?

Some people find it more comfortable to lean slightly forward with their feet supported and their knees a little higher than their hips.

A toilet footstool can help create that position, but it is not a cure for every cause of slow pooping.

We cover that separately in Does a Squatty Potty Actually Help You Poop?

🛠️ What Can You Try?

• Wait for a clearer urge instead of forcing a bowel movement on schedule.
• Try using the bathroom after breakfast or another meal, when colon activity naturally increases.
• Keep your feet supported and lean slightly forward.
• Breathe out rather than holding your breath and pushing as hard as possible.
• If the stool is hard, address the constipation itself.
• If the stool is soft but still feels blocked, pay attention to whether pelvic-floor coordination may be part of the pattern.

🩺 When Is It Worth Getting Checked?

Consider talking with a healthcare professional if long, difficult bowel movements are becoming your normal—especially if you regularly have significant straining, pain, a blocked feeling, soft stool that is still difficult to pass, or repeated incomplete emptying.

Seek prompt medical advice for blood in the stool, black or tarry stool, severe or constant abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, inability to pass gas, unexplained weight loss, or a sudden bowel-habit change that does not go away.

💙 The Show Me The Poo Takeaway

If pooping takes forever, do not focus only on the stopwatch.

Ask what fills the time.

Waiting with no urge points toward timing. Hard stool points toward constipation. Soft stool plus a blocked feeling points toward an emptying problem. Fifteen minutes of videos after you already finished points toward your phone.

🔗 Related Reading

• Why Am I Constipated? Common Causes and What to Do
• Does a Squatty Potty Actually Help You Poop?
• Is It Bad to Sit on the Toilet Too Long?
• Why Do I Feel Like I Still Have to Poop?

📚 Sources & Further Reading

• NIDDK — Symptoms & Causes of Constipation
• NIDDK — Treatment for Constipation
• American Gastroenterological Association — Constipation
• Trieu et al. — Footstool Use and Simulated Defecation

Reviewed for accuracy: September 26, 2026

Show Me The Poo provides general educational information and does not diagnose medical conditions or replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.