— A PLOS One study of 125 adults undergoing routine colonoscopy found that people who take smartphones into the bathroom were more likely to have hemorrhoids: phone users stayed longer on the toilet and had a 46% higher likelihood of hemorrhoidal findings after researchers adjusted for fiber, activity and straining.
Key Takeaways
- Study population: 125 adults surveyed immediately before screening colonoscopy.
- Phone use prevalence: 83 participants (66%) reported using a smartphone in the bathroom.
- Increased risk: Bathroom smartphone users were 46% more likely to show hemorrhoids on exam.
- Time on toilet: More than 37% of phone users stayed over five minutes versus 7% of non-users.
- Risk held after controlling for diet, exercise and straining.
- Experts caution this study shows association, not definitive proof of causation.
- Practical advice: limit toilet sitting to about five minutes; set a timer if needed.
Verified Facts
Researchers surveyed 125 adults immediately before their routine colonoscopies and documented smartphone habits and bowel symptoms. Gastroenterologists conducting the procedures recorded the presence of hemorrhoids during the exam. Of the 125 people, 83 (66%) said they used their phone in the bathroom, primarily to check news or social media.
On statistical analysis, participants who brought phones into the bathroom had a 46% higher likelihood of hemorrhoids than those who did not. The association persisted after adjusting for known hemorrhoid-related factors, including dietary fiber intake, exercise frequency and reports of constipation or straining on the toilet.
Experts note hemorrhoids are common and usually not life-threatening, but they can cause pain, itching and bleeding. In the U.S., hemorrhoid-related concerns drive nearly 4 million outpatient and emergency visits annually, reflecting significant symptom burden and health-care use.
Context & Impact
Investigators and clinicians point to two mechanisms that may explain the link: prolonged sitting on a toilet bowl provides little pelvic-floor support and increases pressure on rectal veins; and smartphone use encourages extended, distracted sitting. Over time, persistent pelvic-floor strain can worsen constipation, lead to fecal urgency or contribute to rectal pain.
Colorectal and gastrointestinal clinicians have reported seeing hemorrhoid complaints in younger adults more often in recent years, though causality is not established. One colorectal surgeon said higher complaint rates could reflect multiple factors, including lifestyle, access to care and diet, not solely smartphone behavior.
Public-health impact would depend on whether short-term behavior change — for example, avoiding phones in the bathroom or limiting toilet time — reduces symptoms or clinical visits. For clinicians, the finding may offer a simple counseling point for patients with recurrent hemorrhoids or pelvic-floor symptoms.
“The longer you sit on the toilet, the worse it is for you.”
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center researcher involved in the study
Practical tips
- Keep bathroom sessions to five minutes or less; set a timer if needed.
- Address constipation with adequate fiber, fluids and regular activity.
- Avoid deliberate straining; see a clinician for persistent bleeding or pain.
- Consider leaving your phone outside the bathroom to reduce distracted sitting.
Unconfirmed
- Whether smartphone use directly causes hemorrhoids remains unproven; the study shows association, not causation.
- Study participants were sampled immediately before colonoscopy and may not represent the general population.
- Long-term outcomes after changing bathroom-phone habits were not assessed in this study.
Bottom Line
A 2025 PLOS One analysis links bathroom smartphone use with a higher prevalence of hemorrhoids, largely tied to longer toilet sitting. Clinicians advise limiting time on the bowl and addressing constipation; further research is needed to confirm causation and evaluate whether behavior change reduces symptoms or clinical visits.