The sense of relief that sometimes accompanies an urgent trip to the toilet isn't just the gratitude of not having crapped your pants - according to Princeton gastroenterologist Dr Anish Sheth, it can be close to a religious experience or an orgasm.
Apparently, according to Dr Sheth - co-author of What's Your Poo Telling You? - passing a particularly large stool can stimulate nerves that create an orgasmic-like experience.
The doctor warns the feeling can be addictive for some (we're not making this up, honest), and explained: "The distension of the rectum that comes with the passing of a large mass of stool causes the vagus nerve to fire.
“The net effect of this is a drop in your heart rate and blood pressure, which in turn decreases blood flow to the brain. When mild, the light-headedness can lead to a sense of sublime relation — the high."
Dr Sheth has written the book with Josh Richman, and if you visit their website, Dr Stool, you can read more about 'poo-phoria', their special word for it.
Warning about overdoing it with big jobs, they write: "A more significant drop in brain perfusion can cause ‘defecation syncope’, a dangerous syndrome that results in a loss of transient consciousness (the O.D. or Over-Doodie).”
If you're also interested, you can download the app 'Poo Log' via iTunes, which helps you keep a regular check of how, er, regular you are.
It's a good checklist for those with IBS, Crohn's Disease and those attempting to prevent bowel cancer.
(H/T: News.au.com)