It’s a common relationship complaint – why do men, boyfriends in particular, spend so much time in the bathroom? As a woman, it can be endlessly frustrating when your boyfriend is occupying the bathroom for ages, leaving you waiting impatiently outside.
There are several reasons why boyfriends tend to take longer bathroom breaks than their female partners. Understanding the reasons can help you to be more patient and find solutions.
He’s Pooping
One of the most obvious and common reasons a boyfriend hog the bathroom is that he’s pooping. Let’s face it, men just seem to take longer to do number two.
There are a few reasons why boyfriends might take longer pooping:
– Diet – Men often eat more meat and less fiber than women. This leads to tougher stool that takes longer to pass.
– Reading material – Many men bring reading material like a phone or magazine into the bathroom with them to pass time. This extends the pooping session.
– Escape – For some men, the bathroom offers a quiet escape and alone time. They’ll sit and relax even after finishing the actual business.
If your boyfriend is taking exceptionally long pooping sessions, it could signal an issue like constipation or hemorrhoids. But in most cases, he just needs more time than you to take care of business. Be patient, and maybe bring your own reading material along while waiting.
He’s Grooming
Another very common and time-consuming male bathroom activity – grooming! From shaving facial hair to trimming nose and ear hair, boyfriends can spend a lot of time on grooming rituals.
Some key reasons your boyfriend may be spending long stretches of time grooming in the bathroom:
– Shaving – If your boyfriend shaves with traditional razors and shaving cream, this can take 15 minutes or more. Electric razors are quicker.
– Showering – A thorough shower with full hair and body washing can easily eat up 20+ minutes.
– Hair styling – If your boyfriend blow dries, styles, or treats his hair, this adds more time in the bathroom.
– Skincare – Cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing the face adds several more minutes.
– Nose/ear hair trimming – Manscaping routines to tidy up nose, ear, and eyebrow hair all require bathroom time.
– Body grooming – Your boyfriend may also be meticulously manscaping his chest, back, buttocks, or groin area.
While you may not need as much time for grooming yourself, remember that beauty routines are not just for women. Be patient about sharing bathroom time for your boyfriend’s grooming needs.
He’s Using the Toilet as a Hiding Place
For some men, the bathroom becomes a refuge and hiding spot to get some alone time or avoid interacting with others. Reasons your boyfriend may be hiding out in the bathroom include:
– Escape loud environments – If your family/house is chaotic, the bathroom offers peace.
– Avoid social anxiety – For boyfriends with social anxiety, the bathroom can feel like a safe space.
– Get out of chores/requests – Not wanting to do a task like laundry or run an errand.
– Escape confrontation – Dodging a disagreement or heated conversation with you.
– Game/watch sports – He sneaks off to play games or watch matches on his phone.
If it seems your boyfriend treats the bathroom like a hiding spot, gently talk to him about it. Getting to the root of why he hides away can help you find a solution together. Offer to create another space where he can relax alone.
He’s Dealing With Health Issues
In some cases, a boyfriend who spends long periods of time in the bathroom may be dealing with a health condition that causes issues like:
– Constipation – Straining and difficulty passing stool.
– Diarrhea – Frequent, loose bowel movements.
– Hemorrhoids – Irritated veins in the anus causing pain and itching.
– Bladder/urinary tract issues – Trouble urinating, increased frequency.
– Hygiene/grooming – Needs extra time cleaning himself thoroughly.
If you notice your boyfriend’s long bathroom time is accompanied by signs of pain, discomfort, or complaining about symptoms, delicately suggest he sees a doctor. Getting treatment can help improve any underlying health issues.
Be understanding that for some conditions causing bathroom troubles, your boyfriend simply can’t rush things. Patience and concern are the best approaches.
How to Share the Bathroom with Your Boyfriend
Sharing one bathroom with a boyfriend who seems to live in there can try your patience. Here are some tips to better share the bathroom:
– **Communicate needs politely** – Before getting frustrated, nicely ask him to wrap up because you need to get in there.
– **Compromise on grooming time** – Agree on set grooming times so you can plan around each other.
– **Buy a magazine bin** – Give him reading material to limit phone time on the toilet.
– **Add a bathroom fan** – Muffle embarrassing sounds so he doesn’t have to wait for an empty house.
– **Schedule showering together** – Coordinate a shared showering routine a few times a week.
– **Set a bathroom time limit** – Agree on a reasonable max time limit before the other person can bang on the door!
– **Get ready together** – Do your makeup and hair alongside him while he shaves and styles his hair.
With good communication, compromise, and understanding, sharing a bathroom with your boyfriend doesn’t have to be a point of contention. You can find ways to meet both your needs.
When to Stop Being Patient
While bathroom patience is generally required in relationships, there are some cases where you need to speak up:
– He is spending over 30 minutes at a time in there multiple times a day. This is excessive.
– His long bathroom time makes you late for important events and commitments.
– You suspect he is hiding addictive or harmful behavior like drugs, pornography, or gaming.
– His bathroom use has changed suddenly and dramatically.
– His long bathroom time is linked to serious untreated health issues.
If your boyfriend’s bathroom time seems truly excessive or is linked to underlying issues, have a caring but firm talk and suggest solutions like therapy or doctor visits.
Conclusion
Spending what feels like an eternity waiting for your boyfriend to exit the bathroom can be maddening. But in most cases, there are reasonable explanations like pooping, grooming, or getting alone time.
With some patience, communication, and compromise, bathroom time can become less of a relationship battleground. Understanding men’s bathroom needs is key.
Of course, if underlying health or mental health issues are at play, or the time spent in the bathroom becomes truly disruptive, speak up. There may be solutions like medical treatment, counseling, or designated alone time elsewhere.
Approach overlong bathroom sessions with more lightheartedness than frustration. Getting angry or resentful usually won’t make a man poop any faster. With some adjustments, you can both meet your bathroom needs!