A woman whose bowel was to be removed due to chronic and severe constipation, says that we all must be more open to talk about basic physical functions.

The 26 -year -old Catherine Nicklas was told for many years that his constipation was due to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and he was repeatedly determined.

He said that as a teenager, embarrassment about her symptoms meant that she was struggling to advocate for taking her situation seriously.

A prominent pelvic health doctor, Prof. Julie Cornish said that many patients need surgery for pelvic health problems, but simple solutions were possible when the symptoms were spotted soon.

Ms. Niklas, who works in North Wales, said that before her surgery she was “taking a laxation as she was a smarter” but “still struggling to go to the toilet”.

“I was living in Flooti fabric forever because because of blotting and even bought maternity jeans just to be comfortable,” she said.

“If I was able to leave (for a poo) it would only result in irrigation or an enema. I would come home from work and spend an hour on the toilet – I had no life, because I was always uncomfortable.”

He said: “On one occasion I did not go to the toilet for four weeks and were admitted to the hospital.

“He said that I was full of worship, everything just stopped working.”

Despite various tests and changes in her diet, no reason was ever found, but the years of constipation had a long -lasting effect on the pelvic organs of Ms. nickels – causing pain, vaginal bleeding and inflammation.

In 2022, the large bowel of Ms. Nicas was removed.

As an adult, Ms. Nicklas said that she advocated taking her symptoms seriously, but as a teenager she said that the embarrassment of physical functions made it more difficult.

“Now look back, so why is such a shameful thing?

“Why is it going so embarrassing in the toilet when it is just a normal work that everyone does?

He said, “Would my constipation be better if I had not denied going to the toilet, unless I was at home and my brothers were around and no one could hear me? Because it is not a healthy decision,” he said.

“My body has been affected as a result of constipation and so many years.

“Your pelvic floor is completely destroyed by the fact that you are constantly trying to go but you cannot go.”

A colorectal surgeon Prof. Cornish said that pelvic health issues affected both men and women.

“This is a public health issue that in fact we need to inform people in the first stage – and it is not just for women and girls, it is also for boys and men because pelvic health issues affect everyone by different ways,” he said.

“We are not only talking about gynecological bits, we are talking about the bladder and bowel that can be affected and it affects things such as pelvic organ prolaps.

“Therefore, if you have been constipated for many years, you are more likely to develop problems with a prolapse.”

The requirement of better understanding is part of the reason that Professor Cornish set up the Eventuron Health Festival in Cardiff, which is now in its third year.

This year, teenagers will be given one thousand tickets free of cost, in which educational sessions have been planned to know menstrual health, pelvic health and basic body parts.

Shakira Hasan, an expert female health physiotherapist, pelvic pain, bladder, intestinal and prolpas issues treat a wide range of conditions, where the pelvic organs have excluded the place.

“If you were to examine more than 40 women, 50% of those women would actually spread a pelvic organ, so it is about being able to educate and empower women who are still able to live a really normal and well life,” he said.

Ms. Hasan said that the stigma was a huge factor, which could be worse in some cultures.

“We know that one of the three women will have some urinary incontinence experience and potentially one in four women will experience some level of stool incontinence throughout the lifetime. This is a very large number – this is really common.”

“Education is important,” Prof. Cornish said.

“And the difficulty is that there are some people who have an understanding or are able to reach that education, you are essentially disintegrating a large proportion of the population that may not be able to access it, and they can eliminate patients I see more.

“You look at the inequalities that are there.

“But all this leads to a large -scale delay in treatment and usually increases the severity of symptoms and treatments.

“We all have a responsibility for our own health and it is going to be important-it is not only about offering it off-load only for NHS, so I think more as we teach our children, it is going to empower them to take responsibility for moving forward.”

Welsh government said: “Health and goodness are an essential part of the course for Wales and helps learners to understand various factors that affect their physical health.

“Our guidance expects children to learn about a series of health conditions that can affect them.”