Learn more. Your rectum is the lower part of your colon, where stool forms. If the rectum drops out of its normal place within the body and pushes out of the anal opening, the condition is called rectal prolapse. In the early stages, a prolapse may happen only after a bowel movement. The protruding rectum may then slip back through the anal canal on its own.

But if straining while pooping is a regular occurrence, you may want to come up with a new game plan. Hard, difficult to pass bowel movements that require physical exertion and straining can lead to health complications. Addressing these health complications and their symptoms is just one part of the puzzle. If you need to strain when pooping, consider talking with your doctor to find out why. Typical reasons include:.

Straining to poop is an essential part of the human experience. Everybody poops—no matter your location, socioeconomic status, or delicate sensibilities. And unfortunately, even the simplest things are harder than they should be sometimes. So, yes, straining to poop is just a fact of life.